RResidents in Japan

< Mental leave >

All I do is work and I don’t feel happy to be alive at all. Several friends have recommended that I take a mental leave, but I haven’t had the courage to do it.

I am aware that I need to go to a psychosomatic clinic first.

Could you tell me what the process is after that, roughly how long I will be absent and what I need to report to the company during that period?

3 comments

  2. I’m assuming it depends on the company, but this was my experience:

    After using my PTO, work said I could continue absence with a doctor’s note. Doctor recommended one month rest with occasional check-ins and gave me a note stating as much. Gave that to company by mail and got the time off.

    Currently trying to go back. I’m actually in the waiting room of the doctor right now. I notified work that I was ready to return. They’re requiring my doctor fill in a specific form they gave me. Then, I’ll need to meet with doctors from my company to determine if I’m good to go

    As far as the doctor’s visits go, I was surprised how run of the mill it all seemed. Go in, describe symptoms, get medicine. Much more affordable than I expected too.

    I’m not sure how easy it would be if you don’t speak Japanese, though.

  3. For a longer leave you could also look into sickness allowance / 傷病手当 ( Shōbyō teate).

    You would need to discuss this with your psychiatrist. If he says that you can’t work due to your mental state you can apply for allowance. You will need a form filled in by your doctor, a for filled in by your company and one that you fill in yourself. If approved you will receive 60% of your income for a periode up to possibly 18 months. Also in theory your company can not refuse this. The money is paid by the health insurance.

    But this is something you have to discuss with your doctor.

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