Taking a mental health day is important – here’s how to ask for one

Australian workers need an occasional break, but might feel too 'guilty' to ask for one. Photo: Getty

With mental health awareness rising, more workers are looking to take time off even when they’re not physically sick – but many find themselves confronted by the old-school stigma over taking time off work for a ‘me’ day.

Taking a mental health day means a day off from work to reduce stress and prevent burnout, something which the World Health Organisation recognises as a syndrome resulting from “chronic workplace stress”.