In workplaces, especially in Australia, a mental health day is where an employee takes

sick leave Sick leave (or paid sick days or sick pay) is paid time off from work that workers can use to stay home to address their health needs without losing pay. It differs from paid vacation time or time off work to deal with personal matters, because si ...

, or where a student does not attend school for a day or longer, for reasons other than physical illness. Mental health days are believed to reduce

absenteeism Absenteeism is a habitual pattern of absence from a duty or obligation without good reason. Generally, absenteeism is unplanned absences. Absenteeism has been viewed as an indicator of poor individual performance, as well as a breach of an impli ...

and presenteeism, which is a reduction in productivity or other negative consequences resulting from a pressure to work. Mental health days differ from absenteeism in that the purpose is to reset one's mental health rather than due to a nonspecific desire or feeling to skip work.

Motivation

Major depressive disorder,

bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by excessive amounts of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are pervasive, impairing in multiple contexts, and otherwise age-inapp ...

and other mental illnesses, along with moods such as stress, depression, and

anxiety Anxiety is an emotion which is characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil and includes feelings of dread over anticipated events. Anxiety is different than fear in that the former is defined as the anticipation of a future threat wh ...

, can cause impairment on workplace functioning and learning. There is evidence in the United States that inadequate managerial support for mental illnesses and negative moods has led to increased absenteeism, morbidity, and an estimated US$300 billion yearly loss as a result of workplace stress. The stigma associated with mental illness also restricts the ability of students and employees to claim sick leave for mental health. One interpretation of the term "mental health day" is to function as an alternative wording to "sick day" to avoid stigma from workplace mental health issues, so that employees are more able to express difficulty and request support. A 2010 study showed that one third of workers "admit to faking an illness to get the day off work because they feel they are not coping."

Legality

In Australia, according to the '' Fair Work Act 2009'', employees are entitled to use sick leave and personal leave since according to the

Fair Work Ombudsman The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) (or formally, the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman), is an Regulatory agency, independent statutory agency of the Government of Australia that serves as the central point of contact for free advice and information ...

, personal illness includes stress that may impact an employee's mental health. Since casual workers in Australia do not receive sick leave, this means they are not able through the ''Fair Work Act 2009'' to have a mental health day, however negotiation with employers is possible. People with mental disorders do not need to disclose the conditions for this purpose unless they pose a harm to themselves or other people, however disclosing the issues may enable employers to better accommodate needs. Most countries have no law requiring employees to produce a

medical certificate A medical certificate or doctor's certificate is a written statement from a physician or another medically qualified health care provider which attests to the result of a medical examination of a patient. It can serve as a sick note ( UK: fit ...

for only one day of absence. However, in 2010, the National government of New Zealand proposed a law to require a medical certificate for one day of absence, and the employer must cover the cost of obtaining the certificate if the duration of absence is less than three consecutive days. In the United States, under the ''Americans with Disabilities Act'' of 1990, individuals can have mental health days as part of "reasonable accommodations" for a disclosed mental illness. In other cases such as for stress, taking time off is allowed entirely at the discretion of the employer.

References

{{Reflist Labour law Leave of absence Mental health Social security

Motivation

Legality

See also

References