Taking Time off from work for your mental health (2022 Updates)

You must understand you have options.

State Disability income is an option for people who work in California, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico. It can provide you with income while you are not working.

Another option is Employer Sponsored disability insurance. About 40% of American workers have it.

In District of Columbia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon and State of Washington, you may be eligible for Paid Family Medical Leave. To qualify, you don’t need to be disabled. You just need to have a “serious illness.” Yes, mental illness can be a serious illness too!

The federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may protect your job for up to 3 months. Many states have their own version of FMLA which provides similar or even more protections.

All of the above means you are not limited to your accrued sick and vacation time. You can take a longer break to rest and heal.

Here is what you do:

1. Get mental health treatment. You will need a medical provider to sign off on your request for medical leave and disability claim.
2. Contact your Human Resource Department to see what types of disability benefits you have (the ones I mentioned above).
3. Talk to your medical provider and family about when you want to stop working and for how long.
4. Stay in treatment. Get better. Connect with loved ones, friends and family. Return to work when you are ready. Or take a longer break if you want to.

~Andy Chu, Esq.