Did you know a physical injury or illness can lead to a mental injury as well?

Did you know a physical injury or illness can lead to a mental injury as well?

This can happen over time and is sometimes called a secondary mental injury.

It might be because the person is struggling to cope or adapt to life with a physical injury. Or, their physical injury might have been caused by a traumatic or distressing event, like an assault.

They could be worried about what the future holds, and how their physical injury will impact their life.

They might feel anxious or uncertain about going back to work, or what people might think when they return.

That’s why, as an employer, you play a key role when your worker is injured or becomes ill at work.

Workers who feel unsupported by their employer during their claim are more likely to be off work for longer.

They are also at greater risk of experiencing mental health issues in connection to their injury.

When a worker is ill or injured, one of the ways you can have the biggest impact on their recovery and claim is by reaching out early to show your care and support.

Staying connected also helps you stay informed on how you can assist your worker in their recovery and return to work, when the time’s right.

For more tips and resources on getting in touch early with your worker, watch our other video.

Finding jobs or tasks your worker can do while they’re recovering is a great way to support them as they settle back into work. It’s good for your business too.

Offering meaningful lighter work, also called suitable duties, shows your worker you care about their recovery.

Find out more about identifying suitable duties for a worker with a physical injury in our other video.

There can sometimes be stigma about making a claim.

This can make it tough for workers when they do come back to work.

You can help by showing genuine support and understanding.

Foster a workplace culture where everyone feels valued, and where workers can speak freely about safety and wellbeing.

If you do notice your worker’s not coping well, and they have an accepted claim for a physical injury or illness, WorkCover can pay for sessions with a counsellor or psychologist to support their mental health during their recovery.

This can help prevent things becoming worse later on with their physical or mental health and provide tools to help them cope better.

You can find out more by searching for ‘Adjustment to injury counselling’ on our website, or by speaking to your claims contact.

You can find other mental health supports available to Queensland workers on our website.

If your worker does develop a mental injury in connection to their physical injury, it’s important to remember that many people can and do recover fully. Getting the right support early can really help.

If there’s something you’re not sure about, you can give us a call. We’re here to help.

If you need help in your language call 1800 512 451 and ask for an interpreter.

For more resources, visit our website or subscribe to our YouTube channel.