Category Archives: mental health awareness

MENTAL HEALTH DAYS ARE NECESSARY.

I’VE BEEN TAKING A FEW MENTAL HEALTH DAYS BECAUSE I AM DRAINED. AND THAT SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AND NOT FROWNED UPON.

BENEFITS OF MENTAL HEALTH DAYS:

  • Increased Productivity: When employees are given the time to rest and manage their mental health, they often return to work more focused, energized, and productive. This can lead to better overall performance and efficiency.
  • Reduced Absenteeism: Offering mental health days can help prevent more extended periods of absence due to burnout or mental health crises. Employees are less likely to take unscheduled sick days when they can take planned mental health days.
  • Improved Employee Morale: Employees who feel that their mental well-being is valued by their employer tend to have higher job satisfaction and morale. This can lead to a more positive work environment and better team dynamics.
  • Lower Turnover Rates: Companies that prioritize mental health tend to retain their employees longer. This is because employees feel more supported and are less likely to leave for a company that might not offer the same level of care.
  • Attraction of Talent: In a competitive job market, offering mental health days can make a company more attractive to top talent. Potential employees often look for companies that prioritize work-life balance and employee well-being.
  • Legal and Compliance Benefits: In some countries, offering mental health days can help companies comply with laws and regulations related to employee health and safety, reducing the risk of legal issues.
  • Enhanced Reputation: Companies and countries that support mental health are often viewed more favorably by the public, which can enhance their reputation as responsible and caring entities.
  • Better Mental Health Outcomes: On a broader scale, supporting mental health in the workplace can contribute to better overall mental health outcomes for the population, reducing the burden on healthcare systems and improving societal well-being.

Countries that prioritize mental health days:

  • Australia: Mental health is increasingly recognized, with many companies offering mental health days as part of broader wellness programs. Additionally, Australia’s Fair Work Act includes provisions for personal leave, which can be used for mental health.
  • Canada: Some Canadian provinces have implemented mandatory sick leave policies that can be used for mental health days. For example, in Ontario, employees are entitled to take unpaid job-protected sick leave, which can be used for mental health.
  • New Zealand: New Zealand has recognized mental health as a crucial part of overall health. Employees are entitled to sick leave that can be used for mental health. The country also encourages workplaces to adopt mental health-friendly policies.
  • United Kingdom: In the UK, mental health days are typically covered under the broader category of sick leave. Employees have a right to take time off for mental health issues, and there is a strong cultural push towards recognizing mental health in the workplace.
  • Finland: Finland is known for its progressive stance on employee well-being, including mental health. Sick leave policies in Finland are comprehensive, and mental health is considered a legitimate reason for taking sick leave.
  • Sweden: Sweden has a strong social welfare system, and mental health is well-covered under its sick leave policies. Employees can take time off for mental health reasons without facing stigma or financial penalties.
  • Germany: Mental health is taken seriously in Germany, where employees can take sick leave for mental health issues. The country has robust labor laws that protect employees who need time off for mental health reasons.
  • Japan: Japan has introduced “stress checks” as part of its workplace health regulations. While not all companies offer specific mental health days, there is a growing trend towards recognizing mental health issues and allowing time off.
  • France: France offers generous sick leave policies that include mental health. Employees can take time off for mental health issues, and the country’s healthcare system supports treatment for mental health conditions.
  • Netherlands: The Netherlands has comprehensive sick leave policies that include mental health. Employees are encouraged to take time off when needed, and there is a strong support system for mental health in the workplace.

hospital stay costs $32,656.

I had to go to the hospital on 6/16 for a mental health issue where I was not given any surgeries, procedures, or anything that would medically warrant a bill this large. I have health insurance and the hospital billed my insurance $32,656.24, of which the insurance has supposedly paid for. that leaves a “pending insurance” balance which is what really scares me, but if so than I would def meet my out of pocket max deductible of $1,800.00 which I am already close to. The only good thing about this health insurance is that I haven’t paid for a prescription ALL year. all free at the pharmacy. well, my precious Tretinoin (Retin-A) 0.025% cream was denied by my insurance company when I have been on it for YEARS. I switched to azelaic acid because I wanted to try something new, it was $8/mo when I had Cigna. I decided to just pay out of pocket and it was $36.00. Honestly makes you appreciate and use it more lol. I am waiting for Ambetter to send all of my EOB’s so I can comapare them to what the hospital billed & I hope that the hospital gets my financial assistance application like the lady said they would and I would qualify for 100% assistance. (I got laid off on 5/31, I got my last half paycheck on 6/14 and am waiting on unemployment). Cannot believe that I had a $30K+ trip to the hospital & don’t even have new teeth or better. Only if you have it, please consider donating and I will show you the receipt of it going to the bills below which I downloaded straight from MyChart.

July 10, 2024.

mental health awareness:

june 16 to june 20, 2024:

my 5 days in the hospital:

I was laid off from my job on May 31, 2024. We got our official paperwork on May 20, 2024. We had been told that it was coming but they just kept extending it, acting like the NEEDED us and that basically, until the client says we gotta go, we’re staying.

Around June 5 or 6, I started to feel extremely depressed and was crying for no reason and had no idea why but also my entire routine had been taken from me and I now went from working my ass off every single day to doing nothing. I felt purposeless and like I had no place. I felt devalued and complete disposed of. We were laid off over Zoom from our office and signed our paperwork stating that we would be eligible for unemployment and that they would NOT be contesting it.

A few of my co-workers that were in the phases before I was, meaning they were laid off first, advised me NOT to apply for unemployment until I got my final check, my severance check. For some reason, the last group of us got our severance pay and our last weeks paycheck and vacation hours all on the same day. I applied for unemployment around June 20, 2024.

I have officially been unemployed since May 31 of 2024 and have applied for unemployment as well as food stamps and have not heard anything back from either agency. I have not received a paycheck since June 14 and that was 2 days before I was admitted to the hospital. Luckily, I wasn’t able to spend a lot of money during my hospital stay because I wasn’t awake for most of it. The doctors said that I was extremely dehydrated and malnourished, which was true because I definitely had not eaten a full meal in 10 days.

I say all of this to say that I ended up in the hospital for a nervous breakdown because of a corporation that discarded me like trash. they have not done anything as promised and that is the way of corporate America. We are so lucky these days because we have so many other ways and opportunities to make money and make a lot of it. That is part of the reason that I started this website. I am still in the very beginning stages, but I want to provide people freedom from their 9 to 5 jobs because we were not put on this earth to be slaves to other humans.