How should I tell my boss that I have depression/anxiety?

According to a 2018 study conducted by the Duke of Cambridge and Mind Launch Online, 48 percent workers have a mental health problem. However, they choose not to tell anyone about it. Slowly these mental health problems aggravate to the level that they manifest in their physical forms harming the affected person mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Most people do not talk about their mental health at work because they fear that they would have to face some kind of discrimination or retaliation. This retaliation could include being looked over for further opportunities in the company, staff losing respect for the affected person, senior leadership thinking that the affected person is unfit to do the job, and people withdrawing helping hands. The reason why most people struggling with a mental health disorder think this way is because 85 percent of them feel that people still stigmatize mental health disorders. They are still unable to accept that mental health problems are as real and treatable as physical health problems.

Telling the boss

In spite of this thought process, mental health experts feel that a person battling any kind of mental health disorder should tell their boss about it. After all, it is the legal and moral duty of every employer to protect their employees from stressors and ensure that the work environment is healthy. There is nothing wrong about talking about your mental health at work. On the contrary, it helps take things slowly, set expectations, and establish boundaries.

Here are a few tips that can be used when telling your boss about your depression or anxiety:

Talk to them in person: Talk to your boss in person rather than on the phone or through the email. Talking in person ensures that the other person is listening to you and can empathize.

Choose a time: Set up a meeting when you are ready to talk about your mental health. Choose a time when you think you are at your best during the day. Ensure that you are calm and treat the conversation like any other conversation.

Present the facts: Tell your boss facts about the mental health problem you are facing. Statistics about a mental health problem will help them understand that the problem you are experiencing is quite common. You can tell them that you are seeking professional help and talk about your general course and time of treatment. You do not need to share personal details like the name of your therapist, medicines or the exact schedule of your treatment with your boss.

Ask for help: Before going for the conversation, take out a list of your responsibilities. Talk to your boss about these responsibilities indicating which you can handle yourself and for which you would need help. This is the right conversation to set clear expectations of what you can do and what you would need help for. It will also align your boss to your expectations from them and self. Once they are clear about what you can handle, their trust be greater and they would give you things that you can handle more easily.

Keep it short and professional: While having the conversation with your boss, try not to let your emotions control you. Avoid sharing too many details about how you feel during your depressive episodes. Keeping the conversation honest, frank, and short would set the tone for a positive outcome.

The way forward

Remember that talking about your mental health problem is the same as talking about your physical health problem. Do not worry about the stigma. No employer can discriminate against you if you are capable of performing your job. And if they do, then it is time to look for an organization that would support you through this tough time.

If you or someone you know is battling a mental health disorder, feel free to reach out to us at Athena Behavioral Health. Our expert team of psychologists and psychiatrists offer suitable support in a favorable environment for long-term healing. Our team has developed reliable and efficient inpatient treatment programs for depression and anxiety. These can be personalized based on a patient’s mental health requirements and needs. You can WhatsApp us on 9829086193 for more information about mental health treatment programs for depression and anxiety. You can also chat online with a representative from the admissions team to learn more about treatment modalities. Our staff is available 24/7/365 to assist you.