Thinking about taking a mental health leave? Here are the steps to take, according to an employment lawyer.

Craig Levey, an employment lawyer, shares how employees can approach taking time off for their mental health.

Olga Pankova/Getty Images Employment lawyer Craig Levey has seen an uptick in employees taking leave from work due to mental health.

He shares five steps workers should take if they are considering taking mental health leave.

There are laws under which employees may qualify to take leave, such as the FMLA and the ADA.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Craig Levey, an employment law attorney in Boston, about how employees can request leave from work for mental health reasons.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I've noticed an explosion of workers who are taking leave for mental health reasons , including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

It's become one of the top issues I'm dealing with in terms of employment law.

People are saying, "I'm struggling with these issues .

I've met with my physician or my therapist, and I've been diagnosed.

It's affecting my job.

Do I qualify for leave?" A lot of people don't really know where to start looking.

Here are the steps I suggest they take.

1.