How To Improve Your Mental Health By Opening Up To Your Boss

Amidst the constantly hustling and bustling world, the call for mental health visibility is louder than ever. Professionals and employers alike have since created spaces to ask about how to improve mental health – and for good reason. After all, the Department of Health shares that 1.14M Filipinos suffer from depression, 520k diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and 213,422 with schizophrenia.

Whatever the reasons for the rise of mental health deterioration is, the pandemic gave even more space for conversations like these to grow. People have become more vocal about including mental health as part of their overall health.

Manifestations of these can be seen in a phenomenon like The Great Resignation. More professionals have said no to toxic workplaces, the lack of work-life balance, and difficult bosses. The value of self-care has risen exponentially.

Not only that, the dissemination of information grew because of the digital platforms that give way for space. Essentials like relevant hotlines, mental health professionals, programs, and proper diagnoses are now more accessible. Laws like the Philippine Mental Health Act protects patients from suffering of any kind. The presence of a Mental Health leave at some companies too are just part of a growing list to make people undergoing these issues have an easier time.

But while the drive to address these silent battles can be traced back to the 1950s, talk surrounding mental health issues and concerns still remains a stigmatic conversation made for closed doors. Despite a more welcoming environment to voice out concerns, there are those who still choose to suffer in silence. They would rather choose that route than be social pariahs, especially at their workplaces.

Also read: Do Career Breaks Matter? 6 Signs You Need a Sabbatical

Should I open up to my boss about my mental health?

Despite putting up a brave face at work, you can only do so much to cover up your mental health issues. Whether you are someone who has been diagnosed or has yet to, the depth of your concern can affect your work negatively if unaddressed. If you feel like you need to speak up but not want it to be a big deal, there is one person you can go to for these things: your boss.

Depending on the relationship you have with them, the desire to share should not be overlooked. Why is it important to share? We spend most of our lives at work. If you are a member of the corporate world, we spend close to 40 hours per week at the office (or at home, if for remote purposes). You cannot hold the fort down forever, especially if triggers are present.

If you are ready to open up to them, here are five ways you can go about doing it to make the experience easier for the both of you.

1. Identify the kind of support you need.

Before anything else, understand the type of support you want from your employer. Even if you are suffering from a mental health concern, the priority to serve as an employee is still present. So whether you need to take a mental health break, use up your vacation leaves, or decline extra work, knowing what you want to address can greatly help in your conversation.

Once you know what you want, clear it with HR first to ensure you are not overstepping policies. HR is a great first step to head towards if you are not yet confident with the things you want to say to your boss.

2. It is all about timing.

Pick the right time and place to share your thoughts. If your superior usually has a jam-packed schedule, try to get a slot ahead of time. But make sure that they are cool, calm, and collected.

The ideal setting would be a not-so-busy day at work so your heads are both lukewarm – no extreme tempers rising or dropping. Select a place that is calming for both of you, like an empty meeting room, your boss’s office (if it is closed door), or even outside. Assess if the place is comfortable enough for you to open up to them.

3. Write down what you want to say.

Always have a copy of what you want to say on hand. If you can extemporaneously share, good on you. But having your notes with you can prevent you from deviating and eventually oversharing what you were not supposed to say. You can put your thoughts in a journal, your phone, or type it up and print it out in time for the big meeting.

This method can also guarantee you do not forget anything major to share. Big points can include how your mental health is affecting your productivity levels. Propose a solution to combat that, and discuss it for their approval.

4. Rehearse the conversation.

Now that you have what you want to say, it is time to put it to the test. Practice what you want to preach, and share with your supervisor. Repeating it constantly over the next couple of days as you count down to the meeting will help ease the nerves.

More importantly, try to remove any doubt or nervousness regarding the stigma of mental health. If you feel like you need extra support, call in HR or a trusted mediator to help facilitate the conversation better.

5. Be open to giving and receiving feedback.

Take a deep breath and a sigh of relief. It is finally done. Once you open up, your manager or your supervisor could express concern and be extra cautious around you. Depending on how deep your mental health issue is, ensure to keep an open relationship with them regarding this. Share what works and what does not. In turn, maintain an open mind on suggestions they might have to improve the work environment you have, your working ways, and the like.

Doing this provides fair ground for both you and your boss. This can be a great learning experience for you two, especially since it could be your first time treading such ground.

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Amid all this, do not forget to take care of yourself in the process. Coming out with a mental health issue is challenging to process, and you should not force yourself to share if you do not need to. But acknowledging the concern is the first step in finding out the ways to improve your overall mental health. On top of that, you can learn to integrate your work and personal life properly, on top of dealing with what you are going through.

Know that you are not alone, and that sharing about your issues should not stop you from living the life and doing the work you want. Talk to a healthcare professional if need be, but if you feel like your mental health is taking a toll, it is time to take a break.

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