In the spring of 2018, my mental and physical health had deteriorated to a point where I felt unable to function. I wasnt just dealing with a cold or a bad few weeks. Stress had ravaged my mind and body, creating a snowball effect that led to mental health problems including a panic disorder, major depression and generalized anxiety. And all of that contributed to flare-ups of chronic illness and a completely compromised immune system. So, I took a medical disability leave and it changed my life.

Many people in corporate environments dont know about this option, despite the fact that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide . I didnt. Theres a huge stigma when it comes to addressing mental health in the workplace. Theres a valid fear of facing repercussions or discrimination at your job based on your mental health status.

But as more people reach breaking points, they may not have another option. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the number of workers taking mental health leave appeared to be on the rise, according to Angella Lugioyo, a human resources executive and expert in California. Lugioyo said she has seen an uptick in mental health disability cases in recent years, with most of it being stress and anxiety related.

Stacy Cohen, a double board-certified psychiatrist at The Moment in Los Angeles, has seen this with clients in the clinical setting as well. In the past few years, Ive had a vast increase in the number of patients pursuing medical disability leave for more general mental health issues, with work-related stress being a major contributing factor, she said.

And the need for leave may only increase: Experts predict mental health issues and the need to address them will continue to rise as the year goes on. The stresses of COVID-19 , police brutality and racism are combining to produce a unique mental health crisis . Texts to one federal emergency hotline increased by 1,000% in April 2020 (over April 2019), and prescriptions for anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication have risen by roughly 10%.

Mental and emotional distress can have dangerous consequences if not addressed properly. That makes its more important than ever to take care of yourself especially if you have the resources to do so.

Heres how to determine if you need mental health leave, what type of leave to take, how to obtain leave and how to make the most of your recovery time.