Workers’ Compensation for Mental Health Therapy
Workers’ compensation is commonly known for paying for the medical bills associated with an accident that occurred at work. For instance, if you were on a ladder at work and fell off and broke your leg, workers’ compensation would cover the cost of your medical bills as well as any compensation you may lose from having a broken leg.
However, many people are diagnosed with mental health conditions following a traumatic event. If you have experienced a mental health condition after a work-related event, you should be eligible for workers’ compensation for therapy. If you are denied therapy, you should contact an Elizabeth NJ work injury attorney from Rispoli & Borneo P.C. We will work with you to provide proper evidence and documentation to fight for your medical expenses to be covered.
Mental Health Conditions Following Workplace Events
There are many reasons someone could be diagnosed with a mental health condition from the workplace. The most common reason would be after suffering a terrible injury while at work and developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after the injury. PTSD is thought to be primarily diagnosed with soldiers after returning home from war, however, it can happen to anyone if they have been in or witnessed a traumatic or catastrophic event.
A worker can also experience PTSD or another mental health condition by just witnessing another co-worker in a terrible accident. If a worker has been in or experienced an accident, going back into a similar situation or thinking about that situation can cause anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
Physical accidents are not the only cause for mental health conditions in the workplace. Employees who suffer from extremely stressful jobs may lead to anxiety and depression. If an employee works in a hostile work environment, the thought of going into the office may cause for a number of mental health condition. EMTs, police officers, social workers, and even therapists, may experience anxiety and fatigue after being exposed to traumas and abuse on a regular basis.
Difficulties with Mental Health Therapy Workers’ Compensation Cases
Due to the nature of a mental health disorder, it can often be difficult to receive workers’ compensation to pay for the medical expenses. The most important part of a workers’ compensation claim is proving causation. You will need to obtain a medical diagnosis stating your mental health condition. Once you have the diagnosis, you will need to be able to show a connection between your condition and something specific that happened while you were working.
Another difficulty associated with mental health therapy workers’ compensation cases is time. Mental health conditions can often take months to develop and actively present itself in your daily life. With the amount of time it takes to present, it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact situation or cause of the condition. The longer it has been since the traumatic incident, the more difficult it will be to prove a correlation. This is why it is critical to consult with a work injury attorney in Elizabeth NJ as soon as you suspect you may be having difficulties.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are denied coverage for mental health therapy following a traumatic event at work, you should contact a work injury attorney Elizabeth NJ clients respect from Rispoli & Borneo P.C. Our team of professionals will work with you to find evidence to show your condition occurred due to a work-related cause. Mental health conditions can affect your daily life and should be treated just as severe as a physical condition affecting your daily life. Call Rispoli & Borneo P.C. for a consultation on how to start the process on obtaining workers’ compensation for a mental health condition.