Sometimes employees living with mental health problems may need to take extended periods of time off work in order to stabilise their condition and regain their health before they are ready to return. For others, the workplace can be a factor which exacerbates their condition and taking a break may be recommended by their GP as the best thing for them.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) refers to the minimum rate of pay that employers are entitled to offer you when you are off sick and it is set by the Government. Employers do have the option to increase the rate of sick pay above this national minimum.
When only the minimum is offered, concerns over the low level of sick pay can have a huge impact and make taking much-needed time off to recover seem impossible for people.
Jenny told us about how the financial difficulties caused by SSP had a detrimental effect on her mental health and why she thinks SSP needs to change.
Read Jenny's story