In the average workplace, only 47% of employees know what mental health services are available to them – and only 38% feel comfortable accessing them. Having only one mental health day a year doesn’t do the trick.

Discussing mental health in the workplace isn’t always easy. You may worry that your colleagues and managers may think of you differently or that this will affect your professional growth. But learning how to talk to your boss about mental health creates change. Speaking comfortably about your mental health will help you at work, and the positive effects of that will spill over into your personal life.

We’ll talk about what mental health is and why it’s important to talk about it at work. We’ll give you tips on talking about it with your managers, including some do’s and don’ts.

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: What is Mental Health?
Mental health is a big term, so let’s break it down. The CDC describes mental health as emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects our thoughts, ideas, actions, and feelings. Our mental health also affects how we handle stress and interact with others in our relationships.

Mental health changes with time and experiences. Perhaps while we are in college, we suffer with our mental health because we are constantly stressed. But after graduation we find a job and our lifestyle changes. This can lead to changes in mental health, too.

Here are some examples of mental health problems we may face:

depression
Anxiety disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder
bipolar disorder
Eating disorders
schizophrenia

Mental health awareness is also about recognizing the importance of self-care. The healing process begins from within. If we want to heal and take care of our mental health, we must begin to practice self-care. When we practice self-care, we prioritize our wellness. We are intentional in our actions and create a routine that values our peace.

Self-care comes in all shapes and forms and may look different from person to person. What is important, however, is finding practices that help our mental health. Here are some examples of different types of self-care:

Engage in physical activity
Drink plenty of water
Get enough sleep
Establish a good work-life balance
Disconnect from social media
Exclude toxic people

Why is it important to talk about mental health?

When we experience mental health problems at work, discussing them is one of the first steps we must take to improve. Talking about our struggles is important because it helps create an open and honest work environment. People feel more comfortable talking about their struggles when they know their work environment is supportive as well.

Mental health issues affect employee productivity and work performance, as well as how often they can come to work. Perhaps unbeknownst to the manager, many employees are experiencing high levels of stress and potential burnout.

But not many employees are having this conversation. One study found that 60% of employees have never spoken to anyone at work about their mental health.

If it’s because they’re worried they might be fired, they shouldn’t feel that way: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires companies with more than 15 employees to make reasonable accommodations for the mental and physical health of employees.

Talking about these issues on any workday invites discussions about how to prioritize employees’ mental health. These conversations require courage and firmness from both the employer and the employee.

In addition, they need the courage to stand up for themselves and use their voice. Employers must be resolute in supporting the needs of their employees, even if this results in the company changing the way it operates.

Learning to be assertive does not happen overnight. For some people, this skill is difficult to acquire. At BetterUp, our coaches will provide the guidance you need to learn how to be an assertive person. You will develop the skills you need to advocate for and communicate your needs effectively.

Go ahead, express your opinion

So, you are wondering what to do when mental health affects your work. Of course, one of the first things you can do to help take care of your mental health struggles is to use your voice and speak your mind.

Talking to your boss about your mental health can be a little uncomfortable, especially if you’ve never had this kind of conversation. You can email your boss about mental health, or talk to him in person or on a video call.

Here are four ways to have a conversation with your boss about your mental health:

1. Be clear and direct
   This is not the time to sweeten things up. Explain the mental health challenges you face exactly as they are. This openness and vulnerability will help your boss clearly understand your feelings. With all the information available to them, it is best they decide how to help you. Plus, you won’t feel left out of any detail, and it would be nice to take that off your chest.

2. Make it an ongoing conversation
   Make it normal for you to talk about your mental health with your boss and co-workers. When the conversation is going on, it doesn’t become stressful or uncomfortable. Find out when is the best time to take these checks, and you just might inspire others to have the courage to talk about their mental health.
3. Discuss your roles and responsibilities
   You don’t need to reveal everything about your personal life, but it helps to understand how your mental health at home affects your roles and responsibilities at work. It allows your boss to understand you more and the changes he needs to make to help you.

Perhaps you are suffering from burnout due to your high stress levels, long working hours, and busy schedule. But maybe you’re also a newly working mom and struggling to find a reasonable work-life balance. Think about what your whole self needs.

4. Be prepared and know your resources
   Before you talk to your boss, you need to understand the resources you have available. Your company probably has Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and a company culture that values well-being.

Be prepared with suggestions and possible strategies for action so that your mental health is taken care of. This may show that your company is not providing enough support, and you need to highlight this to HR.

To talk about it or not to talk about it

If you’re thinking, “Should I tell my boss about my mental health or not?” The only person who can make this decision is you. It is a conversation that could make a lot of change in your working life. This will improve your work-life balance and help you create boundaries that protect your wellness.

Additionally, it may open up other ways for you and your team to be more mental health aware, such as listening to podcasts about mental health issues.

If you decide you want to talk about your mental health, we’ve come up with a list of do’s and don’ts to help guide your conversation:

Do:
Keep your conversation clear and concise by writing down what you want to say and rehearsing it beforehand
Talk to everyone who needs to know, like your boss and your HR department
Be prepared with reasonable accommodations or suggestions about how you want to proceed, such as a more flexible schedule or the option to work remotely

no:
Share your experiences and talk about unrelated things going on in your personal life
Complain about your work and make it seem like you don’t commit to your job
Assume that your boss will only say negative things about your situation
Prioritize your mental health in the future
Learning how to talk to your boss about your mental health is an act of courage and shows that you make your own wellness a top priority. It doesn’t matter if you have your dream job or not, because your wellness should always be of the utmost importance to you.

It is a smart move for your future. You invest in yourself and work to stay healthy. And you work to reinforce skills along the way, such as being firm, articulate, and courageous. It will show you that asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of.

If you find that your boss can’t help you the way you’d like, you’ll know it’s time to change jobs or seek the help of a supportive mental health professional (or both).

one last thing. Have you ever stopped believing that you became a leader at work by talking to your boss about your mental health? You are a positive role model that encourages others to use their voice. We need more people like this, and we are proud that you are one of them.