Would you leave a job for your mental health?

[fugginhell]

I'm tired of being put in to positions I don't want to be in I feel pressured to say yes I can't cope with it all. I work for the NHS so majority of the problems are due to understaffing and our terrible manager.

I feel like telling her I'm not coming back tomorrow but then I don't want a bad reference I just can't put myself through another day off it.

I did. I left for self employment so despite my manager being vile it really didn't matter because I didn't need a reference. I appreciate I probably cannot go back (similar to NHS role) to that organisation again but nor do I want to. Its far too toxic and cause far too much stress.

Start looking for other jobs there’s plenty of healthcare jobs it’s not all about the NHS. If you’re relying on their reference I would serve my notice properly.

Yes. Your mental health is more important.

I did. Handed my notice in one day when I had finally had enough. No job is worth your mental well-being.

If you can not cope then get signed off for a couple of weeks and use the time to look for something else.

I have! What I would do in your position is sign yourself off for a few days, have a think, then if you feel the same issue notice and work it, purely to get a reference. Also, getting a new job is easier when you have one but sometimes knowing you are looking to leave helps. If you actually don't want to leave though you could raise these issues about doing things you are deeply uncomfortable doing.

There's a saying that people don't quit jobs, they quit managers. I'd say life is too short to be unhappy every day. Most large companies are not actually allowed to give references beyond confirming employment dates, and you could always list someone else as a reference from your team.
Take your mental health seriously, you could go to a Gp tomorrow, get signed off for stress and look for another job

My problems in the NHS were the same, and I left, even took a pay cut (which has been evened out with better over time pay).

I'm sad not to be working for the NHS I am proud of, but I love my new job and I am much better mentally for it.

Yes, your mental health is more important than any job. I say this as an NHS manager. However, I do also know that in my trust there is a lot of support we can put in place to support someone's mental health, so I would encourage you to talk to your manager about how you are feeling, and see if there is support there.

I did! So much happier now.

My MH is bad at the minute due to work -understaffed, overworked, massive amount of responsibility because they promoted me to a job I didnt want. Waking in the night then cant get back to sleep thinking of all the things I need to do for work.

Holidays can only be taken in a few months of the year due to the rest of the year being so busy.

I'm find myself wishing I get sick to have time off work but Im sticking it out for now. I dont know why. In a couple of months Im going to look for a change of departments. They surely cant all be this bad.

Yes I have and always will. My health is too important to allow others to abuse it.

Do it. I'm leaving my current permanent job for my first fixed term post. The new work is where I want to head anyway, but there were definitely push factors. I'm just gritting my teeth through my notice period.

I'd say try looking for new roles to move into. Work your notice period if you need a reference.

God I'm so tempted but then I'm thinking about how I will leave them even more under staffed and the rest of the team under more pressure. It's making me ill OH thinks it's all my fault because I always agree to everything. But it's hard you feel like you can't say no.

I have an interview tomorrow so I am leaving but I just want to go back at all.

@JaniceEvans my manager is the one causing the problems.

Yes and I have done.

Was bullied by a manager who use to be my friend , she turned nasty and I could not cope. I left and the company went bus…. Karma.

There are jobs everywhere

I have just recently left a job in the NHS for the same reason, now bank.

It took some gearing up to do but I was utterly miserable.

I am currently working my notice period in the mhs.

My manager is great but I cannot work under these conditions any longer. Massively understaffed and with a huge workload requiring a hell of a lot of input.

I did. Walked out one lunchtime and got signed off for 8 weeks while I got better and then found a new job.

It was the best the thing I ever did. References have not been a problem since.

Yes and I have done so.

Good luck with the interview

Yes,I left in January after very bad anxiety set in, I should have left much sooner.

And of,course my fingers are crossed for your interview 🌺

Yes - also NHS.

I just couldn’t cope anymore. In the morning, I would be sat in the car park and I would be crying because I just couldn’t face getting out the car and going to work.

I would usually be crying when I left work too.

I left and went to a lower paying job (my take home pay went down by over £500 a month) but it was absolutely worth it.

Yep, I have handed my notice in a few weeks ago now with my mental health being most important.

I worried for my team being overstretched and overworked with me leaving, but then I remembered that they would replace me regardless.

Make the right decision for you & good luck!

Yes, twice. Both NHS jobs. 1st time in my 20s after being treated appallingly by being left to run a psychiatric ward at night by myself age 24. I walked out after being physically assaulted for three nights on the trot.

2nd time, NHS admin job with a vile manager who bullied me out. I took early retirement last year.

Both times felt like a weight had been lifted as I walked out of the door on my last day.