Do you think it's acceptable to take a "Mental Health Day" off from school or work?

People can get exhausted from all the stress in day to day life. Sometimes its important to take a day to sleep and just relax by yourself without any work stress. Even weekends don't help because thats the time to spend with family or go grocery shopping and do errands. Do you think taking a mental health day to regroup by yourself is a acceptable?

I think it's perfectly acceptable. An overworked, overstressed worker or student is more costly than the day off they take to recouperate. I take them sometimes.

Yes, I take several ones a month. :)

OH YES...and I take one every other month or so.

Absolutely.

My boss is totally understanding if you tell her you need the day off for a mental health day. It's good to keep from getting burnt out.

However, it can't be abused. If you're taking one a week, that's a sign that something else is wrong - either personally or at work.

its better than going postal at work or school ...........
so YES!

Yes, people do it all the time. it is called,"calling out sick"

Yes! Look at the poor postal workers. They are not allowed to take amental health day and look what happens to them!

i think its fine....i let my daughter take a couple evry school year :) just make sure you have good grades :)

I think that taking a day off once in a while is acceptable, everyone needs a break once in a while. But what sucks is that when you miss one day, the next day you have to do 2 days worth of work.

Not only is it acceptable , it is necessary. Enjoy and rejuvenate. Maybe finish that book or take a long winter's nap!

Most Certainly, just call in sick.
Take that day and do just that. Everyone needs to shut down when the stress becomes to much.

Stress is so dangerous, you'd be foolish not to do it.
All the work will still be there tomorrow.

Just do it. I have and I had to get into some pretty good movies just to get my mind off work...so don't waste the day thinking or worrying about work ok?

YES!!!!!! absolutely it's important to rest the mind as much as it is the body. As you said, a weekend often doesn't allow for de-stressing. A mental health day is important to the overall efficiency of your ability to work.

Yes. I think this is very acceptable. Especially considering the fact that if you don't take a mental health day off and you need it, you won't perform as well in work. So if you take that extra day off, you'll do a better job at your work.

Now if you're in highschool or younger, I wouldn't reccomend it. Because of the young age, you may become addicted to just relaxing and missing school- which isn't good.

So really it depends on whether you're in highschool and below or not =]

I am a manager with about 50 employees. I have a number of people who take mental health days all the time. I think it is totally acceptable. As long as they don't take advantage of the circumstances, i feel it may make the employee more commited knowing that the boss knows sometimes they need to get away.

ABSOLUTELY it is acceptable. Everyone needs a day to them selves to regroup. More and more companies are letting there staff off for this very reason. People do get stressed out and a day to themselves helps out with this problem.

Absolutely! If workplaces want their employees to get along with each other and to do their jobs to the best of their ability, they should recognize that a person simply HAS to have a day off once in awhile when they're just too stressed out!!

only if its once or twice a year

yes, some government jobs incorporate that in their contracts
yes, take one every once in awhile. I do.

It may be appropiate for work but not for school. We have a lot of time off as it is and teachers are forced cram a lot of what we need to learn into one short period. That day would also be added to the end of the year.
nice try though

absolutely, especially since i only get TEN DAYS of paid vacation, and TWO SICK DAYS per YEAR at my job. in Europe, you get SIX WEEKS of vacation.

Mental Health Days were explained to me like this: If you know that going in to work to do your job could result with a negative outcome because of an issue that cannot be resolved through other means-definitely take the day off, but don't just sleep. Do what ever you need to do to resolve the problem. If it means seeing a counselor or psychiatrist, do it! Let your immediate supervisor know about the problem so that they can assist you from their end. You don't need to solve the problem by yourself, that is why human resources has programs in place to deal with these kinds of issues. Most employers would rather take time to help you fix a problem and keep you at work. The cost to the employer to hire a replacement employee and train them to do your job (if you quit or are terminated for extensive absences) cost the employer much more than the cost of helping you resolve an issue.

i wish my parents would go for this. i was just out for a week so, ya. my rents wont [or wouldnt] let me do that for like, 2 mo....... :P plsh.

I believe its completely acceptable to take a Mental Health Day. If you don't take care of yourself how can you possibly take care of anyone or everyone else. If you keep neglecting your needs or the warning signs only bad will come of it. Take the initiative in investing in yourself and everyone will reap the rewards. Trust me i'm speaking from experience.

YES!!! as long as it doesnt become once a month.