If you’re struggling with your mental health and want to speak to your line manager about it, it can be helpful to plan what you want to say beforehand. It’s normal to feel apprehensive. We may feel that our manager will see us as ‘weak’ or not up to the job. However, no one finds things easy all the time, and these feelings are far more common than you may think.
It’s also important to remember that it’s okay to ask for help. It takes courage to open up and speak about your struggles, but it’s often the first step towards finding a solution. Your manager is there to support you and it’s their job to help you succeed in your role.
If you don’t have regular check-ins where it would be appropriate to raise this as a discussion topic, we would suggest lining up the conversation by giving them a heads up, such as “I’m finding things tough at the moment and would welcome the chance to talk to you about it”. This sets the tone for the conversation and reduces the chance of your manager being taken by surprise.
It can be helpful to have a plan in place before starting the conversation with your manager. Consider what you would like to say and how you would like to say it.
- Explain how you’re feeling: Start by explaining what you’re going through, using specific examples if possible. This can help your manager understand the impact that your mental health is having on you.
- Request support: Let your manager know what you need in order to manage your mental health effectively. This could be additional time off, a different workload, or accommodations to help you work more efficiently. It can be helpful to have specific examples of times when you have struggled and what you think could have helped.
- Be honest: Be honest about your struggles and the challenges you’re facing. Your manager is there to support you, and they can’t do that if they don’t know what’s going on.
- Make a plan: Together with your manager, come up with a plan to manage your mental health effectively. It is also important to be open to your manager’s suggestions and to work together to find a solution that works for both of you. This could include regular check-ins, setting goals, or seeking additional support from HR or a mental health professional.
- Follow up: Keep your manager updated on your progress and let them know if you need additional support or accommodations. It’s important to stay open and honest about your mental health, and to continue working together to find solutions that work for you.
If you’re worried about your mental health and don’t feel comfortable speaking to your manager, there are other options available to you. You could speak to a trusted colleague, a mental health first aider, a friend, or a mental health professional. It’s important to take care of your own well-being and seek help when you need it.
Learn more about mental health and wellbeing here and read our Quick Tips Series here.
