Thank you for this post TB. An almost identical situation to my own. Only difference being that I can't actually afford to be signed off for 5 weeks - even if I need it.
I suffer from anxiety - wakes me up at 3am most mornings. I'm just coming to the end of a two week sign off from work due to depression. I assume you probably think I need to man up and stop my "crybaby [sic] fake virtue signalling" ? Really, pack it in - you clearly know eff all about mental...
Good grief :facepalm: There are lots of different mental illnesses not all linked to stress / pressure. Money can't protect you from them anymore than it can protect you from breaking a bone.
I can only assume that you're the type of person that tells someone with depression just to cheer up...