Let Us Help You With Workers Compensation Psychological Injury Sydney

Mental damage is when a person suffers from an acquired attitude caused by an event. In the workplace, these events can be:

• Bullying
• Harassment
• Working dangerous hours
• Intimidation
• Depression
• Physical injury

Unfortunately, stress diagnosis does not qualify you for compensation from employees. Under the NSW Employee Compensation Scheme or ‘WorkCover’ as it is commonly called, the following mental injuries are covered;

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Adjustment Disorder

To be eligible to claim compensation for mentally ill employees, you not only need to be diagnosed with one of the four recognized psychological conditions, but you must verify;

• Injuries occurred during your career
• Work that had the negative impact

Psychological injury claims pose a challenge to NSW businesses because they are more expensive, and compared to physical injury claims, they require more time off work.

Five-year research data from 2013 to 2017 shows that the average cost of mental injury claims and weekly payments was twice as high as claims for physical injury claims for weekly payments – mainly due to double work time lost due to mental illness—injury applications.

Apart from these results, it is also true that employees recover from a mental injury and return to work very quickly in most cases. Within five years, one-third (33 per cent) of all mental health claims result in between zero and 14 days off work.

Looking at these two different outcomes, it seems that NSW businesses have the most benefit when their injured employees stay within the recovery phase early and return to work. Fortunately, the evidence suggests that employers can play an active role in achieving this outcome.

A recent national survey of employees with mental illness found that one of the main factors associated with high return to work was the employer’s response to trauma. The study found that 79 per cent of employees who admitted that their employer had responded positively to their injuries returned to work during the interview, compared with only 52 per cent who disagreed.

These Australian results are consistent with numerous international evidence that support employers’ responses, perceptions of employer impartiality, and the human resource management system “significantly facilitates or hinders” the return to work of people with a mental illness.

How Do You Know That Your Claim Is Valid?

The procedures involved in claiming work compensation for mental illness due to your illness are very different from physical injury and, in many cases, become more complex. Navigating the system on your own, especially if you are unwell, is a challenging task – which is why it is advised to get help from a professional compensation specialist, even if it is free advice, so you know your options.

Contact Today for Guidance

If you are still unsure about Workers compensation psychological injury Sydney and need help with your claim, call us at 0414 734 840 or email us at kerylegan@gmail.com today.