Four Tips for Returning to Work after a Mental Health Crisis

One or more of your employees is likely to suffer from mental health conditions such as stress, depression, or anxiety at some point during their career. In severe circumstances, they may need to take some time off from work for counseling and recovery. The leave duration for mental health ranges from a few days to a few months, but no matter how long an employee is out, the time is coming for them to return and blend back to the workplace. These are a few tips to follow when it comes time to return to work after a mental health crisis.

Reflect on Work

Taking the time to reflect on your work can be beneficial. It also allows us to assess some of the circumstances that might have impaired your mental health. Through the help of a counselor in Orlando, you must check whether there was an internal conflict between yourself and the role. If this is the case, it may be time to move on to another organization or type of work within the sector.

Test the Waters

Remember, there is no need to rush back to work. Work adds to the stress, demands support and self-management, especially on difficult days. So, before diving back into things full-time, you might want to consider volunteering. Volunteering can fit it into your schedule more readily in the early and possibly more intensive stages of the healing process as you work without accountability. In addition, there will be a multitude of organizations eager to get your assistance.

Understand Expectations

Of course, there is nothing inappropriate with returning to your old employment. But, before you do, it is a good idea to schedule a meeting with your boss to discuss the changes.  There are many resources and websites that offer advice to businesses on how to support employees who return to work after taking a mental health leave.  This shows that many employers want to assist you and guarantee that your return is as seamless as possible.

You may consider the topics below in preparation for your discussion:

• Fewer hours - Working part-time at first may help to keep the workload from becoming too much.
• Taking regular breaks - This is done to avoid repeating the same patterns.
•  Working from home might be beneficial, but it is crucial to understand the impact that a lack of social connection may have.
• Maintaining regular mealtimes - A fixed routine is likely to prevent you from eating your lunch at your desk or from completely missing breaks.

Continue Your Recovery

First and foremost, congratulate yourself on the hard work you've undertaken to get to this point. While it isn't easy to face your shortcomings, it's fundamental to go through them. Remember to keep the support network you have set up. Most importantly, when you keep your counselor's dialogue open, it will lessen your blip severity.

These are a few tips that will help you return to work after having a mental health crisis.  When you are worried about returning to work after a difficult time, consider working with a counselor in Orlando to learn the right approach.  Contact Evolve Counseling Orlando to hear how we can support your journey today.