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Supporting Employee Mental Health Post-Injury: What to Know

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What to Know

Research shows roughly half of workers who experience a time loss injury will experience symptoms of depression.1 The chance of returning to work greatly reduces when a worker is off longer than 2 to 3 weeks.

Workers may experience stress, anxiety, or depression after an injury due to:

  • Financial strain (loss of wages)
  • Fear of job loss
  • Judgement from friends/coworkers
  • Lack of support while injured
  • Disruption of sleep and routine
  • Loss of connection with social circles
  • Inability to keep up with normal stressors of life such as personal hygiene, childcare, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.
  • Loss of fulfillment or purpose
  • Concerns over physical recovery and long-term health
  • Changes in motivation and mood
  • Stress disorder diagnosis after being involved in or witnessing a traumatic event

What This Means for Employers

  • Invest in recovery at work programs to increase the likelihood of worker return and retention. The longer a worker is away from work, the harder it is for them to return.
  • Use clear, empathic communication with the worker as a powerful first step after an injury. Show care and express value to the individual personally and professionally. Avoid focusing only on when they will be returning to work.
  • Minimize the impacts of the injury on the worker. Expect and acknowledge that stress, anxiety, and depression are common and normal responses to an injury.
  • Ask appropriate questions to the worker regarding their prognosis and recovery. You can legally ask about their prognosis (not their diagnosis), recovery progress, and how it relates to their return.
  • Advise on available supports – direct support from the employer, Employee Assistance Programs, and community support programs such as help lines, one-on-one visits, support groups, etc.
  • Healing takes time – trust the journey and the worker. It may not be a straight line to recovery as progression and regression is common.
  • Keep the worker as connected to the team during time away. This will make a big difference in their ability to return.

Additional Resources

References

  1. heretohelp.bc.ca

Download Supporting Employee Mental Health Post-Injury: What to Know as a handout to share with your employees or print off.