Taking leave for your mental health.

Free, plain-language help with FMLA and ADA leave for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma. No sign-up. The letters you write stay on your device.

Common questions

• Can You Use FMLA for Mental Health? The Complete 2026 Guide
• Does Anxiety Qualify for FMLA? Your Rights as an Employee
• FMLA for Depression: How to Qualify and Get Certified
• Can Your Therapist Sign Your FMLA Paperwork?
• What HR Can and Cannot See in Your Mental Health Records
• Can You Be Fired While on FMLA Leave? Know Your Rights
• Can You Get FMLA for Stress or Burnout?
• How to Request ADA Accommodations from Your Employer

All guides

The seven steps

1. 1

   Do you qualify for FMLA?

   FMLA is the federal law that gives you up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for a serious mental health condition. Before you do anything else, confirm you are covered.

2. 2

   Talk to your doctor or therapist

   Your doctor or therapist certifies the leave on a one-page form (WH-380-E). Therapists, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers count. Before your visit, know what you need them to say and what you do not have to disclose to your employer.

3. 3

   Notify HR

   You do not ask permission. You give notice. This is a federal right. The notice starts the clock on your employer's legal obligations.

4. 4

   Return the certification

   The WH-380-E form is the pivot point. If your provider fills it out correctly, your leave is approved. If it is vague or contradictory, HR can deny it.

5. 5

   While you are on leave

   Your leave is protected, but you still have rights and obligations. Know what your employer can and cannot do while you are out.

6. 6

   Pushback, retaliation, and denials

   Most FMLA violations are not dramatic. They are small erosions: a denied accommodation, a rewritten job description, a sudden performance warning. Know the patterns.

7. 7

   Returning to work

   Coming back is not the end. It is the moment where rights shift from FMLA (leave) to ADA (accommodation). Plan the transition.

For survivors of childhood trauma

Research on adverse childhood experiences links childhood abuse to health conditions in adult life. These guides cover the science, the conditions it can lead to, finding a therapist, and protecting your records at work.

• The Science
• Mental Health Symptoms of Trauma
• Physical Symptoms of Trauma
• Therapy and Finding a Therapist
• Protecting Sensitive Medical and Therapy Information
• EAP Trap Warning
• Finding the Right Attorney

Made by the people.

(not companies or corporations)

For the people. For free.