Mental health difficulties - how to tell work boss in email

[PamplemousseRouge]

Hi everyone,

Recently, I've really been struggling with work (I've started training to be a teacher) and with my home life (moved into a house share with housemates who I'd never met before).

I went to a nearby hospital this evening to explain the situation and how it's affecting my mental health. The staff were wonderful - extremely understanding and kind.

They've suggested that I take time out of time if I need to.

I'm just drafting an email to my head of department to let him know about the situation with my mental health. I was told by the staff at the hospital that I can reveal as much or as little as I feel the need to in the email. However, I'm finding it difficult to explain my situation clearly and concisely so that my HoD is fully aware of how I'm feeling and how to help and support me if necessary.

I would be extremely grateful if anyone had any ideas on here about how I can write the email. I'm really sorry - I'm just really struggling, and would hugely appreciate some guidance :)

Thank you!

I think you need to just step back for a second and consider all the angles because you are not in a clear position. You are employed but you are also in training. To complete your training you need to be deemed fit to meet the requirements for teacher training throughout.

I'm not saying you can't call in sick. Or that you aren't sick - you haven't said how you are feeling, but obviously bad enough to see a hospital. But I don't think it will do well for your training to have a length of time off sick for mental health reasons if you can avoid it. That's the reality.

And I really don't think it will fly to have a sick note that just says unfit for work. They will want a reason for occupational health.

The family member wants me to talk to s union representative tomorrow, or as early as possible. I joined the union a few days ago, so I'm not actually sure how soon I'll be able to get support from the union.

If you are too unwell to go in, you are too unwell to go in. Your employer will want to know why but will not be able to challenge what your GP says. It is also not too late to call in sick - how many people call in sick in the morning, as I assume is the correct procedure at your school?

On the other hand, if what your relative is saying is that you are well enough to go in, and you are, then you should go in.

What do you think, OP?

Thanks everyone. Trifle, right now, I don't feel well enough for work tomorrow. I've never felt this bad.

Are you definitely allowed to email in? If not ring first thing and notify them that you are unwell and will be seeing the GP that day. Otherwise, email and just say that. Then see what the GP says and take it from there.

Then that's the end of it - don't go in. Make sure you follow your school's cover procedure to the letter. See your GP and ask to be signed off. Call your Union as soon as possible. It is up to you whether or not you send that email.

On second thoughts, after reading everyone's advice, I don't think I will send the email. I'm not sure whether sending the email will count against me, so I'm wary about sending it.

I just need to let my tutor know if I won't be in tomorrow, as I've got a meeting arranged with her. Would you suggest perhaps that i email her or text her tomorrow morning to let her know if I won't be in? I'm leaning more towards email, as I feel it's much more professional than sending a text.

I would definitely email rather than text, but do you not have to follow staff absence procedures anyway? I would strongly recommend that you do this.

Do you have lessons that will need to be covered? If so, you need to phone your school ASAP in the morning (we have to call by 730am), and email hod at same time. You can self certify for 7 days. Go to Gp and get long term sick note if you think you'll need more than 7 days. Think about if it is the stress of teaching making you ill again!

Are you teaching tomorrow? Emailing tonight would be really helpful in terms of organising cover if so. Just say you are ill and won't be in. Follow whatever procedure is necessary in the morning, see your GP and take it from there. Your email is a bit cryptic and won't be useful in terms of putting support in place.

Realistic how much time do you need off.

Would emailing and saying you have the flu be long enough just to cover you for a week in which you can self certificate

You can't lie! It will be a really bad move to claim to have an illness (such as flu) when you don't. You either have to state the true reason or give a sufficiently vague reason that covers it. Do not give a false reason. Teaching is a profession where integrity and honesty are vital characteristics and you're not even qualified yet. You could get removed from your training if you lie about the reason for your absence.

I completely agree lougle. In the interests of staying as truthful as possible, would you suggest that I stick with my original message?

As someone who was in the profession you're joining and was honest with my line manager, I would recommend saying as little as possible, simply that you are unwell. See your GP, get signed off and take it from there.

I am completely convinced that disclosing information was the beginning of the end of my job.

Just say something like "sorry won't be into today, was at the hospital last night and following up with my GP today. I'll let you know when I'll be back asap"

Remember you can self certificate for 7 days so theres no need to rush to get a doctors letter.

Don't email. A phone call won't leave a trail and your sickness policy may require you to phone and speak to your line manager. With due respect, they will want some idea of how long you will be off to arrange class cover.

Should I let them know why I'll be absent tomorrow? Everything points out that I should, but I don't know how to let them know.

I like rumples message. See gp and have a plan before disclosing anything.

My school's policy ask for staff to disclose the nature of their illness. I'm really unsure about what to say about this. Does anyone have any suggestions?

*asks

U would actually disagree with some of these views I had to take a year out of uni with depression and was honest with the uni, they were very supportive I returned and passed the course with a first class honours. In all my subsequent jobs ive declared my illness at occ health appointments and been supported by my employers. The equality act is supposed to cover mental health conditions I had thought. Hope you feel better soon. Id see your gp tomorrow and ask their advice they can keep the sick note brief if needed

Sorry I meant I would disagree

For now, simply don't disclose it. You may be obliged to, I don't know, but until you have spoken to your GP and union, don't. Just say you are unwell. When you return to work you will either have a sick note or you can decide then how much to disclose. To be honest with you I think you will be very lucky to get away with refusing to disclose the nature of your illness for any length of time, but tomorrow isn't the time to worry about that.

Could you say it's of a personal nature?