You shouldn’t be surprised if you feel a sense of loss and depression after a serious and debilitating work injury. You may struggle to adjust as you try to find your new normal. You may feel the pain from your injury and worry about your recovery (or whether you will recover), as well as anxiety over losing your job and being able support your family.
As you adapt, your depression may decrease. This may be the case for some. Studies show that mental illness can persist long after a physical injury. What is mental illness and why does it affect workers more than other people? Let’s explore.
(jcomp/Freepik)
What is mental illness?
The Webster’s Dictionary describes mental illness as a state of cognitive disorganization, or distress, severe enough to interfere with normal thinking, mood, behaviors, relationships, and abilities to function.
The following symptoms may occur:
- Severe depression
- Agitation
- Focusing problems
- Apathy
- Traumatic Stress Disorder (if the injury is particularly traumatic)
- Self-isolation
- Eating disorders
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
How does mental distress affect healing?
Why doesn’t workers compensation want to address mental health?
Worker’s Compensation is looking to pay the least amount possible in order to meet the standard of care. The only injury that they will treat is the one that can be definitively linked to the incident at work. Mental health can be a complex problem with co-existing factors such as stress in the family that may not seem to have anything to do with the injury.
Mental health care can be a good option if you want to get your employee back to work quickly. Mental health professionals teach their patients to calm down, manage stress and concentrate on their recovery, rather than on their limitations. These skills can be beneficial to the patient across a wide range of areas, including workplace injury recovery.
If you are experiencing mental distress that is causing your life to be disrupted, speak to your Worker’s Compensation caseworker about adding mental health treatment to your treatment. Despite the fact that Worker’s Compensation usually does not cover mental health issues in their compensation, they have done so in many cases. It is particularly true when the mental illness is directly related to the workplace injury.
When is it time to call a job injury attorney?
It is best to consult your lawyer from the beginning of the claim.
- A workers compensation attorney can force them to take your claim more seriously. They may try to cut corners with someone who doesn’t know their rights but they will be forced to take your claim seriously if you hire an attorney.
- You can be coached before recording an interview with a claims representative to ensure you do not say anything that could reduce your claim. The claims adjuster can take your words out of context by using recordings.
- A lawyer will help you navigate the claims process and ensure that all the paperwork is completed promptly.
- The attorney will go over any legal documents that Worker’s Comp might give you in order to ensure you don’t sign away your rights to a fair settlement.
- Your attorney can assist you if you develop a mental illness as a result of your injury. It can be difficult to prove the link between your mental illness and your workplace injury. However, a Worker’s Compensation attorney will assist you in building a solid case.
What Should you do after a workplace injury?
You need to take specific steps immediately after an injury. Ask a family member or coworker to help if you’re too hurt to do these things.
- Report the injury to a supervisor or human resource specialist. This step has already been taken if these employees had to call for an ambulance, or if they were present at the accident. However, you should still submit a written report.
- Seek medical attention. It is important to have hospital records in order to prove that the injury was caused by an accident and not a condition you had before. As recommended by your employer, stop working immediately and consult a physician. Keep a copy the discharge papers which should include the severity and cause of your injury.
- Please follow the doctor’s orders to the letter. Workers Comp may claim that your injuries were worse if you did not follow the doctor’s instructions.
- Only attend meetings and give recorded interviews on the phone if your attorney is present. Your rights will be protected at all times.
For more information, or if you need an attorney, search “job injury benefits lawyer near me” on Google or click HERE for a free consultation. Our experienced Worker’s Compensation lawyers in the greater Las Vegas region are available to help.
The first time that Las Vegas personal injury attorneys published the post When workplace injuries lead to depression (and other mental illnesses), it was on Las Vegas personal injury attorneys .