Can You Collect Workers’ Comp for Depression?

If you think about workers’ comp, what ailments come to mind? You might first think about a back injury or chemical burns. The truth is that many illnesses and injuries associated with work are overlooked when it comes to obtaining workers’ comp. Depression is one of them.

When you try to use workers’ comp to receive funding for mental illness treatment, you may face some difficulties. After all, depression is not a health ailment that’s easy to show others, unlike a broken bone or cut. Trying to prove that a job caused this invisible ailment is even more difficult.

If you believe your job has caused or contributed to your depression, you may want to know what your options are. Read on to learn more about the best way to proceed when you have depression and are unsure if workers’ comp will cover it.

Understanding Workers’ Comp

Workers’ comp is meant to help you recover and receive medical treatment. The funds cover your lost wages while you receive treatment as well. Those who receive workers’ comp are generally unable to work while they receive treatment.

Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and funding for treatment when you are injured on the job. But where does mental illness stand with this responsibility? The answer is a bit more complicated than you might think.

Workers’ compensation is a complex matter that is not easy to judge. The reality is that each case differs from the next, especially with complex medical situations.

Understanding Depression

Depression is a very real illness that affects the lives of many workers simply trying to do their jobs. For example, depression is not uncommon in people who contend with chronic pain caused by a work-related injury.

Some industries are more prone to causing depression than others. The industries with the highest rates of suicide include farming, fishing, forestry, construction, mining, maintenance, and factory production. High rates of depression also accompany industries like public transit, real estate, social services, manufacturing, and personal services.

The symptoms of depression may be difficult to spot at first, but they often include sadness or listlessness. Anxious, empty moods are common in depression, as are symptoms like appetite changes, slow movements, and increased fatigue.

Understanding the Role of Workers’ Comp in Depression

Workers’ compensation will only cover depression your job has caused or contributed to. Depression must still be a work-related injury, and it must be related to a physical injury you experienced on the job.

For example, you might have become depressed after experiencing an injury that left you home-bound for several months, unable to live your life as you desire. While you could receive workers’ comps in this scenario, you would not receive workers’ comp for depression you began to experience because you did not like your job.

Proving that the work-related incident caused most of a patient’s depression is difficult. One of the best ways to prove depression is to demonstrate that you have an injury that influences your entire life.

You must also prove that the depression is not a pre-existing condition that from prior to your employment. If you have experienced depression in the past, you should discuss the legal concerns with your lawyer to determine if you still have a case.

Understanding a Workers’ Comp Lawyer’s Role

Consider hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer to handle your case. Laws can be complicated when it comes to filing a workers’ comp claim, especially when a mental illness is concerned. You may need to work extra hard to make your case.

If you have questions about depression and workers’ comp, consult with our professional team. Set up a consultation with the Walz Law Office today. We are dedicated to helping you gain the workers’ compensation you deserve.