The link between mental health and workplace injury

In Connecticut, the law of workers’ comp includes what’s known as a “physical/mental” injury, in which a claim for an accepted mental health injury can be made in conjunction with a physical injury as the precipitant.

With that in mind, we turn to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, which found that depression, anxiety and fatigue may increase the odds of being injured at work. The study looked at claims data from 314 businesses in a range of occupations and involved roughly 17,000 people.

While the “physical/mental” injury claim begins with a physical injury as the precipitant, in contrast to mental injury as the precipitant, surveys like these clearly show that there is a need for treatment of both the physical and mental aspects in workers’ comp claims.

Signs of anxiety and depression

Having established the importance of treating employees’ mental injuries after having been hurt at work, it’s worth diving briefly into the signs of anxiety and depression – still largely considered taboo in American life – as per the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Some signs include:

• Lack of hope
• Feeling worthless
• Feeling helpless
• Lack of physical energy
• Trouble with concentration
• Insomnia

This is by no means a comprehensive list – but the signs listed above could apply to anyone who has been injured at work and is now facing the prospect of major lifestyle changes because of a temporary or permanent injury.

Those who are injured on the job may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. An attorney may be helpful to those who are interested in learning more about applying for benefits. To get started, call the workers’ comp lawyers of Cousins, Desrosiers & Morizio, P.C. at 475-338-3505.