Mental Health Days
Raise your hand if mental health days are included in paid time off for you.
Raise your hand if your (or your child’s) school offers mental health days as part of excused absences.
I think it’s safe to assume that not many hands went up to either of those questions. Vacation and personal days? More likely. Recently, companies and schools have started offering mental health days for their employees and students, which is great! However, why was this such a long time coming, and what the heck is a “mental health day?”
In general, there has been an increase in awareness of mental health care/illness over the last few years. Although still stigmatizing, mental health care and illness are being talked about more than ever. If you needed proof, check out the waitlist many mental health providers currently have. The zeitgeist of the time is showing that more and more individuals are seeking and benefiting from mental health care, which includes taking mental health days!
A mental health day is a day that is taken by an employee or student for reasons other than a physical illness. It might include some vacation plans in there, but a mental health day doesn’t necessarily need to be planned that far in advance and doesn’t need to include vacations. Most of us know when we are going to take a vacation day (or two), and know when we need to call in sick because we have the latest cold that’s going around. But, do you know when to take a mental health day? Here are some signs you might be due or overdue for one:
If you are starting to feel more overwhelmed or stressed out than usual
If you are having difficulties concentrating and producing quality work
Your frustration tolerance and patience are almost non-existent
You find yourself withdrawing and isolating
Physical illnesses and colds are happening more often
Sleep has been disturbed
We know that taking sick days helps our bodies physically recover. We can get the extra sleep we might need and don’t have to worry about driving while taking any medication that might have been prescribed or recommended to us. What exactly are the benefits of taking a mental health day?
You can focus on yourself
Rest and recharge your mind and body
Your brain gets a nice break from the usual routine
Catch up on doctor’s appointments (this includes therapy appointments)
Although we might be able to envision a sick day easily (pajamas, bed/couch, TV/movies, soup/comfort food, medicine, tissues), a mental health day might be more difficult to envision. There is no wrong way to take a mental health day. That’s the beauty of it… it’s a day for YOU! If you want to spend it on the couch binge-watching your favorite show, do it. If you want to run errands or get a massage, do that too. When taking a mental health day, it’s important to remember that taking just one mental health day might not be enough. Just like our physical health, our mental health is not a quick fix and is something we need to routinely work on. Think about planning out when to take mental health days (e.g. before a crazy deadline at work or the busy holiday season), and talk to your mental health provider about ways you can continue to engage in self-care throughout the year!