We are all here to grow as scientists, leaders, and people by pursuing ambitious research goals. However, that should never come at the cost of your well-being.  I have been there and it sucks.  Here is a podcast that I participated in detailing my experience:

https://www.rawtalkpodcast.com/episode/47 (I think my part starts around 42:00 minutes - I went by the pseudonym- philmore)

Your mental and physical health are by far the most important consideration in all that you do while in our lab.  Below are some general guidelines on well-being, but every situation is unique, and I am always open to discussion on this topic, so please don’t hesitate to ask.

If you are not feeling physically or mentally, take the time off you need to seek help and take care of yourself. If you are struggling with depression or anxiety and wondering: “Is it okay to go see a counsellor instead of running a participant this afternoon?” the answer is yes. Please get the help you need and let me know (in general terms, if preferred, what is going on).

If you are going to be away or miss a lab meeting, just let me know so that I know you are okay. There is no need to give details if you don’t want to; it is sufficient to email and say that you have a personal health situation.

If you need to take more substantial time off (a week or two), you can work with me to facilitate this. Being an undergraduate, grad student, or postdoc can be stressful. Moreover, if you are a lab member for multiple years, the chances that one or more significant life situations will arise are fairly high. When this happens, the top priority is taking care of yourself and dealing with the situation. Communicate with me to let me know you are dealing with something and approximately how much time you will need off. You can share as much or as little detail as you feel comfortable with. As your lab mates, we are here to support you and if you need more help for a little while, there is always a way. These situations are stressful, so make sure you take care of yourself and get help if needed.