Recognizing the emotional, mental, and psychological effects of a serious workers compensation injury.
When you think of a workplace injury, you likely think about the physical injury, your business’s legal liability, and workers compensation insurance. However, it’s important to understand that emotional pain, interruption to daily activities, ongoing medical treatment, and other serious life changes also accompany the physical injury. These psychological effects often go unnoticed and untreated, leaving injured employees in a state of uncertainty, frustration, and oftentimes depression. Learn more about the psychological effects of a workers comp injury to help you offer the support that your employees need.
Workers Compensation Benefits Aren’t Always Enough
While the compensation that workers comp provides will help an injured employee receive the medical treatment that they need, it doesn’t necessarily address all the far-reaching effects that an injury has on their life. For instance, it does not address the newfound demands on an injured employee’s family, the side effects of pain medication, the inability to maintain personal hygiene, and the fear of job loss, just to name a few. For many, it is these far-reaching effects that actually hinder their recovery and overall wellbeing.
Treating Depression
Research has shown that there are higher rates of depression after suffering a workers compensation injury. When paired with a physical injury, depression can make it difficult for a worker to truly recover and resume their usual activities. If an injured employee’s depression is recognized and treated along with their physical injury, then this can reduce recovery time, save resources, and get the employee back on their feet.
The Role of The Claims Adjuster
A claims department is mainly concerned with issues pertaining to loss and legal liability. However, as psychological injury effects are not usually addressed in the course of a workers medical treatment, then it is often up to a claims handler to recognize and offer support to an injured worker. The symptoms and impact of post-injury psychological issues vary widely and are sometimes difficult to detect. However, a claims handler should keep the possibility of depression and other issues in mind and offer sensitivity and support resources should such a concern come to light. To facilitate an injured worker’s recovery, it’s important to first recognize all the effects of an injury and, secondly, offer them the support that they need to confront their new challenges.
This is what you need to know about recognizing and treating the psychological effects of a workers comp injury. Remember, having the right workers compensation insurance is an important part of addressing a serious workplace injury. For assistance with workers comp coverage, turn to the experts at PMC Insurance Group. Contact us today to learn more about getting competitive coverage for your small business clients.
