To disclose or not to disclose. Our mental health can seem like a 24/7 job and unfortunately that can feel like it’s getting in the way of our 9-5. It’s important to be able to advocate for our wellbeing in our work places whether that’s taking some time away from work to regroup or making changes to your schedule, or even making alterations to the working environment itself. Here are some things to consider before entering into this dialogue with your employer:

1. Professional Support – The support of a mental healthcare provider can be critical to identifying the concerns and the appropriate treatment or management of the concerns you are presenting. Additionally, they will be key in providing you with documentation should your employer request this.

2. Identify the who of it all – Prior to having this conversation at your work place it’s important to identify the appropriate people to have this conversation with. It varies from work place to work place, it might be an owner, a manager, or in larger companies someone from the HR department.

3. Have a Game Plan – Spend some time thinking about what would make it easier for you to do your job. What hurdles are you facing due to your mental health concerns. Do you need altered working hours? Would working from home 1 day a week help? Do you need a quieter space? Having this mapped out beforehand will be massively beneficial (That mental healthcare provider we mentioned earlier can also be really helpful during this step). There is no guaranteeing your employer will be able to meet all of your suggestions but it will go a long way in opening the dialogue about mental health at work and how we can better support not only ourselves but the entire workforce.

It’s important to remember this is a choice we have to make for ourselves. Accommodations can’t be made unless we start having conversations about how we can best be supported in our working environments. We can’t get what we want and need if we don’t ask for it.