The last year has been hard on everyone. Fear of the virus, limited social interaction, isolation from family, financial insecurity, and other effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have hit people particularly hard. Stress, anxiety, and depression are at an all-time high, even as we see a return to normal life. If you have been collecting workers' comp while recovering from a work injury, your recovery could be slowed down by a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression.
Delays to Your Workplace Injury Recovery
I have looked at the problem of treatment gaps caused by the pandemic, but this is different. Most doctors believe that your outlook and attitude play a major part in recovering from illness or injury. If the pandemic—or another traumatic event in your life—has triggered feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, fatigue, or withdrawal, the progress you have made in recovering from your workplace injury could stall out or even reverse. Loss of energy and motivation, stress-induced weight gain, and generalized anxiety could set your recovery back by weeks or months. It would be best if you discussed these feelings with your workers' comp doctor so you can continue to get the treatment you need, no matter how long it takes to recover enough to return to work.
Mental Health Claims Are Usually Not Compensable in Ohio
If you seek counseling or therapy to cope with a mental health issue brought on by the pandemic, remember that workers' comp will not cover it. In Ohio, you can only get workers' comp for mental health issues if they can be connected to the work injury itself. For example, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall at work and that led to depression, treatment for the depression would be compensable.
Call Us If You Are Struggling
At Monast Law Office, we care about our clients' total well-being. If you have a hard time following through with treatment because of anxiety or depression, contact the office to talk to one of us. It's important to your claim that you follow your doctor's orders and keep up with your treatment plan. We are here for you for the life of your claim, so do not hesitate to call us if you need help!
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