"Mental Health Day"?

[disney1990]

Nope. Sick days are for when I'm sick or my kids are sick.

Mental illnesses are a sickness. Pressing to work 50 plus hours a week can lead to emotional breakdowns and other illnesses.

Take the day off, but be sure to stay at home for some R & R.

 

[PatsGirl]

I took my first "mental health day" a few weeks ago. I woke up in time for work and got a "I hate the world" feeling before my feet hit the floor. I have no idea why I called in sick and stayed in bed watching television all day, something I haven't done in years. When I went to work the next day, several supervisors inquired as to my health when finally I decided to say "I wasn't ill in a stomach bug sort of way, let's just call it a mental health day and trust me you should all be grateful I didn't show up" LOL

Not sure that they enjoyed the humor but man, for whatever reason, I really needed to stay home that day FWIW, I call in sick on the average of once a year so no guilt here.

 

[MM27]

Nope. Sick days are for when I'm sick or my kids are sick.

My contract states that sick days are for the employee only. So taking a sick day when kids are sick isn't allowed either. I know people do it, which is why I don't feel the least bit guilty when I take a mental health day for myself since I don't have kids.

 

[englishteacha]

I have had to take a day for my sanity once in a while. The most memorable was about 3 years ago. I had a spree of really bad days at work (I'm a teacher), meetings during every planning period, kids after school, and having to cover for other faculty due to a mandatory conference our district planned and there weren't enough substitutes. We also had to go to school on a Saturday because we'd had so much snow that winter. So after 6 days of straight horror, I took that next Monday off. I couldn't face going back with only one day's break. Taking a well-deserved break on occasion is acceptable. Putting other people in a bind because you don't feel like working isn't really fair to your colleagues, in my opinion.

 

[C.Ann]

If you have the time available, use it.. If you don't, you'll end up sick from exhaustion and probably end up having to take even more time off..

Nothing to feel guilty about - unless there is a "critical" need for you to be there..

 

[creativeamanda]

As a person who suffers from clinical depression, I take a mental health day quite regularly--about one every 3 months. This was on the suggestion of my therapist and I intend to do it. Take a mental health day--I'm usually 10times a better employee afterwards.

 

[samshane]

I've done in before... my DH is deployed right now and there was a day a few months ago I just needed to. I needed a day by myself with the kids always in tow. I felt a million times better at the end of the day when I picked up the kids from school. Honestly, I feel another one coming on...

 

[wvdisluv2]

I suffer from clinical depression and work 50 hour weeks regularly~I don't take "mental health days". I worry that I will need sick time for the h1n1, regular flu, or other serious illness (I have, pretty much, unlimited sick time/short term disability, with medical documentation.) That being said, my workplace/job is generally not highly stressful and I enjoy my work. It is VERY stressful in our small office when we are short-handed and we all take that into consideration.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I'm not a fan of mental health days, but what you described goes beyond mental health to me. Physical exhaustion is an illness. It is not a mere, "I don't feel like being at work." The body does not function properly wnen you are physically exhausted, just like when you are sick. Driving when sleep deprived is the same as driving while drunk. If you are so exhausted you cannot get out of bed or do your job, you are sick.