This article was written by Paula Benson, former Policy Analyst, Province of Manitoba. Note: currently retired as of June 1, 2023.

  • The problem: Fear of returning to work after a mental health leave.
  • Why it matters: Transitioning back to work is something many of us will encounter.
  • The solution: Learning from the experiences of others and finding support from others who have returned to the workplace.

It has been four years since I returned to work. I took a leave of absence from the Government of Manitoba in 2016. Shortly after I left the workplace I was diagnosed with PTSD. I returned to work in 2019. I was not only returning to work but a whole new branch as I required accommodation as part of returning to work.

Returning to work after a mental health injury requires courage, faith, hope, vulnerability and resiliency.

Since my return, I have experienced several things. Here are a few key takeaways:

1. Transitioning back to the workplace may not be as smooth as we hope, expect or want it to be. There may be bumps and challenges associated with returning to work initially, and within the first year or even two years of being back at work.

  • When these challenges occur, rely on any lessons and coping skills learned from any therapy you may have attended while away.
  • Look for any peer support groups and workplace wellness programmes that can support you and be empathetic to your struggles and concerns. Access whatever support you have available.
  • Practise compassion and kindness to yourself. Know that bumps and challenges do not necessarily mean you are failing. Challenges and obstacles are common for everyone. Your challenges do not define who you are.
  • Practise gratitude however and whenever as this helps foster resiliency. Resiliency is important as you navigate both the workplace and your life. Practising gratitude helped ground me during adversity in many aspects of life. It also reminds me of how resilient I am.

💬 Let the author know what you think about mental health breaks and the return to work by leaving a comment below

  1. Do a values checklist whenever you can. This was one of the key takeaways for me as I neared the end of my therapy journey. I never really had an opportunity to do this before attending therapy. It was great for me to understand who I am and what is important to me. Historically I valued my worth by what I did at work and my position. I recognise now that who I am and what is important to me was not defined by my job title. Resources online can help you identify what is important to you. I would also encourage those who are reading this to find connections between yourself and your place of work. Do your personal values align with the values of the organisation you work for?

  2. Expect the unexpected. Transitioning back to the workplace may not always go as you hoped or planned. If this happens to you, be honest with yourself and with your manager about how you are feeling. During the first year of being back in the workplace, I felt triggered frequently. I was able to share my feelings and behaviour(s) when I was triggered with my team and executive director. This helped foster a “trauma-informed” approach to support me being back at work. Understanding the value of “trauma-informed” support helped inform how we could develop services and support for the citizens of Manitoba and for peers in the workplace. There is tremendous value of a “trauma-informed” approach in the public sector.

  3. Honour and acknowledge how far you have come. Mental health affects us all at any time in our lives. There has been great progress made in the de-stigmatisation of mental health. I am proud of being able to “speak my truth” and “be my authentic self”. I remind myself of the progress I have made and the strength I have. I honour that and celebrate it whenever and however I can.

On a closing note, I would like to say that not everyone will experience their “return to work” as I did, but I suspect that there may be many commonalities and similarities in our experiences. Returning to work after a mental health injury requires courage, faith, hope, vulnerability and resiliency. I never believed that I could be any of these things. I am so proud to say I embrace all of these things and will carry all of who I am in retirement. I retired at the end of May 2023 after 31 years with the public service.

I felt ready, but was aware that I may be faced with challenges associated with exiting the workplace. However, this time, I exited with a renewed sense of self-awareness, compassion and appreciation for not only my career, but also my post-traumatic growth.

Done reading? Make sure to share your own tips by leaving a comment below ⬇️

(Image credit: Pexels)