If you are experiencing depression or anxiety, you’re not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly one in five American adults reported living with some type of mental health issue.
If your mental health condition results from an occupational incident, you might wonder whether you could be entitled to workers’ comp for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. To learn more about Pennsylvania workers’ compensation for mental health, contact Calhoon & Kaminsky P.C. for a free initial consultation.
What Mental Health Disorders Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
It’s possible to claim workers’ comp for mental health conditions in certain circumstances. Workers’ compensation is designed to cover all reasonable and necessary expenses associated with work-related injuries. If you developed a mental health condition directly from a workplace injury or illness, you may be awarded benefits.
There are three main categories of work-related mental health conditions recognized by the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act:
- Physical/mental injuries – Mental health issues that arise during or after a physical injury, such as depression after a traumatic event, are considered physical/mental injuries. For a work-related physical/mental injury, you need to prove that a physical stimulus caused your psychological condition, even if it didn’t result in a disabling injury or time away from work.
- Mental/physical injuries – Mental/physical injuries are mental health conditions that cause physical symptoms, such as severe anxiety that causes gastrointestinal distress. To claim benefits for a mental/physical injury, you must show that the physical condition was caused by a work-related psychological stimulus, it continues even after the stimulus is removed, and it has resulted in a disability or loss of earning ability.
- Mental/mental injuries – These injuries are mental health conditions caused by purely psychological trauma, such as a violent crime, sexual assault, or stressful working environment. For a mental/mental injury, you must prove that a single stressful event or long-term exposure to abnormally stressful working conditions caused your mental illness.
Can I File a Workers’ Comp Claim for Stress?
In some cases, you can claim workers’ compensation for occupational stress. If you suffer physical symptoms due to work-related stress or a work-related incident causes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits for emotional distress that can help you pay for treatment.
Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Me File a Mental Health Claim?
The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys of Calhoon & Kaminsky P.C. are prepared to help you with every aspect of your workers’ comp claim, including drafting and filing claim documents on your behalf. Our compassionate team can answer your workers’ comp questions and evaluate your case for free when you contact us for a free initial case review today.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
For more than 20 years, our attorneys have been helping injured workers navigate the complex Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system. We empower workers with the information and the representation they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families’ future.
