Shattering the Stigma: Normalizing Mental Health Days in the Corporate World

I was lucky enough to get the week after Christmas off from work. This was much-needed time for me to relax and recharge. It got me thinking about how important it is for us to focus on our well-being by taking a mental health day when we need one.  

Most companies offer employees sick days, vacation days, and even personal days, but why aren’t mental health days standard? Especially since mental health issues affect so many of us.  

Mental health issues are rampant in the workforce  

Nearly 1 in 5 adults (43.8 million people) in the United States have a mental health issue or addiction, according to the National Council for Behavioral Health. Millennials (anyone born between 1978 and 1999) make up this biggest sector of the current workforce. This group, which I’m a part of, has higher rates of depression and stress than any other generation, as reported by USA Today.  Millennial women are also far more likely to experience burn out and depression than male counterparts.  

The stigma of mental health remains  

People are more likely to lie about why they’re calling out of work because it’s more socially acceptable than admitting they need time to decompress. I know for me, the times I felt like I needed a day off weren’t because I was physically sick, they were because I was mentally exhausted and stressed out. But I didn’t end up taking the time I needed because I felt I had to put on a brave face and push through because I was afraid of showing weakness. I didn’t want to seem like I couldn’t handle every curve ball thrown at me. But then I realized, taking care of myself doesn’t make me weak, it makes me strong and empowered.

Getting enough sleep and having a good work-life balance shouldn’t feel like luxuries—they are necessities to our health and well-being. Learn more about how a poor work-life balance can negatively affect our health here.  

Paying attention to mental health is worth it  

According to the National Business Group on Health, mental illness and substance abuse costs companies $17 billion each year and 217 million missed workdays. The moral of the story here is that it benefits companies more if their employees take time off to de-stress rather than having to deal with more serious issues in the future if these issues go ignored.  

If companies fail to have a mental health plan in place, they’re not only neglecting the well-being of their employees, they’re missing out on exemplary work that can only be performed by employees who are able to take complete care of their mental, physical, and emotional health.   

How to know when you need a mental health day  

Here are signs that you’re in need of some “me” time:  

• You feel exhausted and can’t get any sleep 
• You’re more anxious than usual  
• You can’t focus 
• You feel down  
• You’re easily agitated  
• You have no energy  
• You feel stuck in a rut 
• You start withdrawing from family and friends 

What to do on your day off 

There are many things you can do on your mental health day to ensure you return to work happier and healthier. You can catch up on some sleep, read a good book, pick up a former hobby, or try a new one. You can also burn some calories and let off some steam with exercise. Why not go to a yoga class? That does wonders for stress relief and relaxation. You can also spend time with your close friends and family.  

One thing you shouldn’t do is check your work emails or take work-related calls. This is your time to completely forget about your job and focus on your self-care—take full advantage of it. It’s time to treat your mental health the same way as your physical health. When you’re sick, you go to the doctor and get medicine to make you better, right? When you’re feeling overwhelmed and overstressed, take the time you need to feel like yourself again. You deserve it.  

Things are looking up 

According to a 2017 survey by Willis Towers Watson, 88% of US employers want to make behavioral health a top priority over the next 3 years. Let’s keep up this momentum by helping to remove the stigma of mental health in the workplace. We can achieve this by taking mental health days when we need them and no longer feeling ashamed of it.  

How do you take care of your mental health?