Can't cope with work anymore - what are my options?

[Empross76]

Hi there,
I posted this in 'The Staff Room' the other day, but thought this was worth a post in 'Mental Health' too.
I've been teaching for just over 10 years, part time for four. I suffer from depression and anxiety. I'm finding it increasingly hard to function and am signed off work at the moment.
I feel like I'm doing a rubbish job of teaching and that for my mental health things would be a lot better for everyone if I could just STOP work.
But - we can't afford it. We need my wage.
I feel so trapped and unhappy and I fear that if I keep on trying to spread myself so thin then I'm heading for serious trouble like a breakdown.
Does anybody know anything about stopping work for mental health reasons - any benefits? Early retirement? Health cover as part of my job?
I'm at my wits end here and really need to do something rather than blundering on and waiting for an inevitable and spectacular crash.

Hi Hoophopes,

OH woman said they advise going back to work towards the end of CBT course, so that you're still seeing CBT counsellor and able to iron out any problems that may be caused by return to work.

So we'll see how the course goes I suppose! Am hopeful rather than pessimistic for the first time in ages and starting to remember the good things about teaching.