What to do if you can't work because of mental health?
Asked by: Mara Olson | Last update: October 20, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (48 votes)
If you are unable to work because of a mental health condition or any other disability, there are some options for financial support. These include disability insurance and disability payments through Social Security. Disability insurance.
What to do if your mental health is so bad you can't work?
If you find you are not able to work due to a mental health condition, short- or long-term, connect with a social service provider that can address your needs. Having a fulfilling job that you are able to perform can do wonders to improve mental health.
What qualifies for mentally unable to work?
Mental and psychological disabilities are among the conditions that can qualify for benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). You may qualify with severe depression, bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, or another mental illness that prevents you from maintaining gainful employment.
What if mental health is not allowing me to work?
Leave for the Employee's Mental Health Condition
An eligible employee may take up to 12 workweeks of leave for their own serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform their essential job duties. Example: Karen is occasionally unable to work due to severe anxiety.
Can you be fired for missing work due to mental illness?
The Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA) protects employees from discrimination based on a disability—including mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
how to study when you are struggling with mental health
Can I lose my job if I go to a mental hospital?
Generally speaking, if you are admitted to a hospital due to a mental health crisis, your employer may not be able to fire you for that reason alone.
Can I take a month off work for mental health?
Stress Leave California
For example, California Government Code §12945.2(a), also known as the California Family Rights Act, requires employers to allow employees with serious health conditions to take up to 12 weeks off in any 12-month period.
How do you tell your boss you can t work because of mental health?
Budget more time than you think you'll need so that the conversation isn't cut short. Be clear about the impact your mental health challenges are having at work. If the cause is work-related, share that also. As much as possible, come with suggestions for how your manager or HR can help you.
What if my mental health prevents me from working?
If your mental health means you aren't able to work or it is making it too hard for you to work full time, you might be able to get benefits to top up your income. Universal Credit is a benefit for anyone with low or no income.
What mental health diagnosis qualifies for disability?
- OVERVIEW OF SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. PROGRAMS.
- impairments.
- Neurocognitive disorders;
- Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder;
- Depressive, bipolar and related disorders;
What is the hardest mental illness to live with?
- Schizophrenia.
- Severe Bipolar Disorder.
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Major Depression and Treatment-Resistant Depression.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Eating Disorders.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- So, What is the hardest mental illness to live with?
How much does mental health disability pay per month?
The maximum mental health disability pay through SSDI in 2023 is $3,267, and the maximum is based on the maximum annual earnings that are subject to Social Security taxes. The average monthly SSDI mental health disability benefit, according to the Social Security Administration, is $1,483 in 2023.
What if I'm too mentally ill to work?
Under federal law, workers with mental health conditions may be protected against discrimination and harassment at work related to their condition, have workplace confidentiality rights, and have a legal right to reasonable accommodations that can help them perform and keep their job.
What are the signs of a psychotic break?
- Suspiciousness, paranoid ideas, or uneasiness with others.
- Trouble thinking clearly and logically.
- Withdrawing socially and spending a lot more time alone.
- Unusual or overly intense ideas, strange feelings, or a lack of feelings.
- Decline in self-care or personal hygiene.
What do I do if I can't work due to anxiety?
If you find you cannot work due to mental illness, you may be able to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. You must provide proof of the mental health disorder by first receiving an official diagnosis of mental illness. Also, SSDI does not pay benefits until after the fifth month of disability.
What does a mental breakdown feel like?
If you feel you are having a nervous breakdown you may: have anxiety or depression that you can't manage. withdraw from your usual daily activities, miss appointments or social activities. feel hopeless or helpless.
Can I lose my job due to mental illness?
While the ADA doesn't prohibit firing employees with mental health disorders outright, it does prevent employers from terminating them based on factors that have nothing to do with their performance or contributions to the team or company. Violating this condition could result in serious legal consequences.
Can you get PIP for mental health?
You can get Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) if all of the following apply to you: you're 16 or over. you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. you have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around.
Can I be sacked for being off sick with depression in the UK?
Poor mental health can be considered a disability even if they do not have symptoms all the time. If a worker is disabled, employers: must not discriminate against them because of their disability. must make reasonable adjustments.
What is the maximum time off for stress in the UK?
Duration and Procedures
UK employees seeking maximum stress leave duration must follow specific procedures: Self-certification for up to 7 days maximum initial time off. GP fit note required for extended time off beyond the 7-day maximum. Regular medical reviews to justify maximum time off extensions.
How to tell your boss you're struggling mentally and need time off?
Be clear and concise, stating the specifics of how your mental health problems are impacting your work. The point here is to keep it professional and appropriate—your boss is not a therapist or close friend, so you need to stick to what matter's to the workplace.
Can you call in sick for mental health?
Most employees will need to take sick leave at some point in their working lives. Both physical and mental health problems can count as sickness. Employers must treat mental and physical health as equally important.
Can you be laid off while on mental health leave?
If you were fired while on medical leave, your employer may have violated the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) (California Government Code Sections 12900 – 12996) by discriminating against you based on the Physical Disability, Mental Disability, or Medical Condition that caused you to go out on medical ...
How to explain absence due to mental health?
- “I'd like to take time off as I'm not in a good frame of mind. ...
- “My depression symptoms have worsened and I need a day off to recover.
Can mental health stop you from working?
But it's illegal for employers to discriminate against people with any kind of disability. Disabilities include mental health issues if they have a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.