To have been off work

[Thedogdaysareover700]

I’ve been off work for five months with mental health issues. A friend of mine said to me today that I should just had in my notice as I’ve been off so long that it will be impossible for me to go back into my team. My team are all quite friendly so I don’t see why me returning after being on long term will mean I’m not longer welcome in the team.

Did she mean you would not be welcome or that, having coped for so long, your role in the team may be different and the dynamics may have changed in your absence. There is a point at which it becomes challenge to return at all, especially if the triggers were work related. Hope you are recovering well.

It's so much better and easier for everybody to have someone with a long-term break from work than an unreliable employee who goes off sick every 3 days. Your company would have been able to employ a temporary cover whilst you are away, if they haven't, it's their mistake.

Your colleagues should be fine - unless you are plastering social media with photos of holidays, days out and every jolly under the sun obviously.

There is a point at which it becomes challenge to return at all

not really, it just takes a few days to settle back. Many mothers come back after a full year maternity leave, it's not necessarily a big drama!

I guess it depends on when you intend to return? Any longer and you are not being fair on your colleagues who are going to have to pick up the slack in your absence. If it is work related mental health issues then it's not going to get better simply by being signed off so it's fairer to you, your employer and colleagues to quit?
Also it's unfair to expect employers to continue to pay your wages in these circumstances indefinitely (if you get long term sick payments)

Sick Pay is paid for periods of being to unwell to work .
If you are entitled to sick pay, and your employer's sick pay policy means you get paid for being off then what's the problem with her receiving it ?
I think it's unfair to suggest that the op should give up work because she gets her sick pay .
Quite a bizarre suggestion .

Well after 4 x lots of maternity leave of 9+ months I've slotted back into my team just fine

People come back after longer after mat leave, or a sabbatical, or a secondment. As long as your manager has been supportive and making effort to help you back when you’re ready then I don’t think you should quit.