Medical certificates when mental health affects work
You can request a medical assessment for a certificate when mental health symptoms affect your ability to work. You do not need to choose a diagnosis or prove that your symptoms are visible. Explain how you are feeling and what has become difficult. The doctor considers your circumstances, immediate safety and whether a certificate, further consultation or another form of support is appropriate.
What the certificate can contain
- Your name and the period supported by the assessment.
- Appropriate wording about inability to perform usual activities.
- The doctor's identifying details and actual issue date.
- A Doccio verification reference without consultation notes.
Discuss confidentiality and recipient requirements before the document is issued. A standard certificate does not need to reproduce a personal account of everything you have disclosed.
When an assessment may help
- Distress, low mood or anxiety is affecting your usual work activities.
- Sleep or concentration problems are making duties difficult to manage.
- An existing mental health condition has worsened.
- You need care as well as documentation and are unsure where to start.
A routine certificate request is not a crisis service. If you are at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, call 000 or attend an emergency department.
How it works
Describe the situation
explain symptoms, timing and how daily activities are affected.
Discuss safety and support
tell the doctor about current care and any urgent concerns.
Complete the assessment
a fuller consultation may be recommended.
Agree on next steps
discuss appropriate documentation and where to seek continuing support.
Mental health, sick leave and appropriate support
Mental health is part of health
Fair Work guidance recognises that illness affecting work can include stress. The question is whether your circumstances support sick leave, not whether the illness is visible to colleagues. See Fair Work's paid leave guidance.
A label is not an assessment
People use 'mental health day' to describe different situations. Tell the doctor what is actually happening: how you are sleeping, concentrating and functioning, and whether you feel safe. The clinician should assess those circumstances rather than issue a document because a particular phrase was selected.
A short break may not address the whole problem
Persistent distress or reduced functioning deserves attention beyond paperwork. Healthdirect's stress information explains when symptoms merit professional support. Ask about follow-up with your usual clinician and any other appropriate services.
Privacy and urgent care matter
Tell the doctor who will receive the certificate and discuss what needs to be included. If you need immediate support, use a crisis pathway rather than waiting for administrative documentation. Healthdirect's crisis-support guide lists services, including Lifeline on 13 11 14. Immediate danger requires 000.
If you want assessment and a care discussion, book an online consultation. Certificates do not replace treatment, a mental health treatment plan or emergency support.
Pricing
Standard one-day requests are $19 and two-day requests $29. A fuller assessment or a request for three days or more requires a consultation at $59 during business hours or $79 after hours. The doctor determines the appropriate pathway and supported period.
Every certificate is verifiable
Employers and institutions can confirm a Doccio certificate in seconds at doccio.com.au/verify, seeing only the details needed to confirm it's genuine.
Doccio Clinical Team
Australian-registered doctors and clinicians
- Clinically reviewed
- 1 September 2026
- Last updated
- 6 September 2026
- Content version
- v3
Questions, answered
Ready when you are.
Start online in a few minutes. An Australian doctor reviews your request and gets back to you, usually within the hour.