How to Talk About Your Mental Health Challenges at Work

Tips to feel supported at work and beyond

Exhausted young man rubbing eyes in cafe with laptop.

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Managing our mental health struggles is tough as it is. And it can become more difficult to keep up with work duties, among any other responsibilities on our plate.

While these aren't always easy conversations to have, it may be helpful to talk to our employer about our struggles so that we can partner with our boss, co-workers, direct reports, or human resources department to find solutions that help us feel better and take greater control of our mental health.

On May 19, 2022, Verywell Mind hosted a virtual Mental Health in the Workplace webinar, hosted by Amy Morin, LCSW. If you missed it, check out this recap to learn ways to foster supportive work environments and helpful strategies to improve your well-being on the job.

At a Glance

Leaving our mental health challenges at the door is a struggle. But bringing them to work while juggling our other duties is no easy feat either. Disclosing your mental health challenges isn't easy; we get it. There is still a potential stigma, a fear of how we'll be perceived, and things to consider with our boss and employer. But being direct and clear about the type of support or accommodations you need to do your best job can show your commitment to the role and help you in the long run.

Should I Tell My Employer?

There are a variety of things to consider if you're thinking about talking to your employer about your mental health challenges.

We may need to navigate these discussions differently depending on the circumstances. Factors that impact the decision to disclose or conceal mental health challenges may include:

  • Potential stigma
  • Personal characteristics of a boss
  • Relationship with employer
  • Mental health of the employee
  • Perceptions of mental illness
  • Fears about losing control

When struggling with mental health, it can even be difficult to think clearly, so it helps to really spend time considering a proper course of action.

A 2015 study looked into how people manage their mental health information at work. This research found that men, people participating in supported employment programs, recipients of disability benefits, people with a thorough knowledge of applicable legislation, those with fewer negative experiences regarding stigma, and people who report more severe illness were increasingly likely to disclose mental health challenges at their workplace.

Talking About Mental Health at Work

Talking to people at our workplace about mental health challenges can feel particularly overwhelming, but it can also be beneficial in the long run. There are productive approaches we can take to be more open with our employer about the mental health challenges we're working through.

A 2017 journal article based on a qualitative research study found that people with mental health concerns had to navigate the stigma of mental illness while managing their symptoms to maintain their work performance.

Given these challenges, it can be helpful to think critically about how to effectively approach discussions of mental health in the workplace.

"For people who have made the decision to speak openly at work about mental health, planning is key." says psychotherapist Haley Neidich, LCSW. "It's important to know and rehearse not only exactly what you're comfortable disclosing, but to talk through with a trusted friend or family member what the various responses might be and how you'd like to address those."

Neidich says that the best approach can often be a direct one, wherein we are not overly emotional and share only relevant information. It may help to tailor our discussion to our audience.

Talking With Our Boss

It can feel intimidating to talk to our boss regarding challenges with mental health, especially when we rely on our jobs for an income to survive.

This insight aligns well with the evidence from a 2020 journal article based on focus groups with people with mental health concerns, human resources practitioners, employers, accommodations professionals, and advocates.

This research found that people benefitted from considering who they should share their mental health challenges with, as well as the content, timing, and communication style used in their disclosure.

While it may not be something we usually bring up in an interview for a new role, Neidich recommends that being clear about the type of support we need to do our best job can demonstrate commitment once settled into the role.

Speaking With Direct Reports

When speaking with the employees we supervise directly, it can be useful to think about exactly what they need to know to complete their responsibilities and how our mental health may impact them.

"Maintain professionalism by being brief, to the point, and clear about exactly what your request or concern is," Neidich says. There's no need to amplify your experience or be overly emotional in order to get others to understand.

If anything, being open with those who report to us may just encourage more dialogue about our team's mental health and foster a healthier working relationship.

Navigating Discussions With Our Co-Workers

While colleagues may not need to know about our mental health challenges to do their jobs well, sharing concerns may yield much-needed support.

"I think that more people should be speaking openly in the workplace about their mental health issues, but there's not any guidance on specifically how to do this," Neidich says. Due to this lack of guidance, it's normal to feel nervous when thinking about talking about your struggles at work.

Do's and Don'ts

It may help to keep these actionable recommendations in mind when navigating discussions about our mental health challenges in the workplace.

Do

  • Be direct and rehearse what to say ahead of time.
  • Be clear with your boss by asking if they feel that anyone else needs to know. For example, some may only request that human resources is also made aware to provide any additional necessary support. 
  • Have a clear list of the accommodations that you need in order to manage both work responsibilities and your personal life. 

Neidich recommends verbalizing your motivation and dedication to the job. "Make it clear to your boss that you take your job seriously and enlist their help in problem-solving how to get you back to a place where you're feeling comfortable and confident with your responsibilities," she says.

Don't

  • Share any information that your workplace does not need to know.
  • Complain about work. Demonstrate that you are committed to your job and that being distracted due to your mental health has been challenging and you want to address any issues and make a plan. 
  • Assume you know how your boss is going to react. Sometimes people can surprise you when you get vulnerable about what you need. 

There are valid reasons for hesitating to talk about mental health in the workplace. Should you feel comfortable making this disclosure, planning ahead may be beneficial, as may getting support from friends, family members, or co-workers that you trust.

What This Means For You

Regardless of what you decide is the best option for your needs at this time, it can help to develop a plan for how to manage your mental health challenges in the workplace. While certain decisions may make sense in one setting at a time, you may want to reassess your needs in the future. It can also be helpful to care for your mental health outside of work hours, by creating boundaries between work and your personal life, prioritizing self-care, and seeking professional help as needed. If you see a therapist, they may also be able to help you plan what to disclose at work and how.

4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  2. Hielscher E, Waghorn G. Managing disclosure of personal information: An opportunity to enhance supported employmentPsychiatr Rehabil J. 2015;38(4):306-313. doi:10.1037/prj0000127

  3. Elraz H. Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illnessHuman Relations. 2017;71(5):722-741. doi:10.1177/0018726717716752

  4. Brouwers E, Joosen M, van Zelst C, Van Weeghel J. To disclose or not to disclose: A multi-stakeholder focus group study on mental health issues in the work environmentJ Occup Rehabil. 2019;30(1):84-92. doi:10.1007/s10926-019-09848-z

By Krystal Jagoo
 Krystal Kavita Jagoo is a social worker, committed to anti-oppressive practice.