The Staggering Rise of Mental Health Leave |
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Mental health leave has sharply increased in the U.S. since the pandemic.
Women, especially caregivers, account for the majority of mental health leaves.
Access to mental health leave highlights structural inequalities in the workplace.
Early, ongoing treatment with an established provider can support the mental health leave process.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults has experienced a mental illness, making them the most common health conditions in the U.S. Mental health conditions are characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior and can cause distress or impairment in important areas of functioning, such as work.
When mental health symptoms become severe enough to impair your ability to perform the functions of your job, a mental health leave of absence may be an option for treatment and recovery.
Leave For Mental Health Conditions
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave annually to address mental health conditions. Eligible employees may take FMLA leave for their own “serious health condition,” or to care for a spouse, child, or parent because of their serious health condition.
An employee can be eligible for a leave of absence for mental health reasons if it meets the definition of a “serious health condition” under FMLA guidelines, such as requiring inpatient treatment or continuing treatment by a healthcare provider for the treatment of chronic conditions (e.g., major depressive disorder) that require ongoing treatment. Although stress and burnout can contribute to mental health conditions, they are not medical diagnoses under FMLA and would not qualify someone for protected leave on their own. Eligibility depends on the presence and severity of symptoms, and on........