The Importance of Addressing Mental Health in Workplace Injury Recovery
When an employee sustains an injury at the workplace, the road to recovery can be long and overwhelming. Beyond physical healing, the psychological impact of workplace injuries are often overlooked, yet they can hamper the recovery process. In the realm of workers’ compensation claims, addressing mental health is crucial in preventing prolonged and expensive cases. Factors such as rehabilitation-related fear, strain on family members, and potential damage to the employee’s self-esteem can adversely impact an individual’s mental health and recovery pace. Thus, achieving effective recovery and return-to-work outcomes sometimes necessitates addressing both the physical and mental health of the employee.
Integrating Mental Health into Workers’ Compensation
While most states’ workers compensation laws cover mental health, uncertainty in some state regulations can hinder the delivery of mental health care during workers’ compensation cases. The emotional distress triggered by work-related injuries can manifest as anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic stress disorder. Identifying these warning signs early and engaging relevant professionals for accurate diagnosis and treatment can improve the employee’s mental and physical state and decrease the cost associated with the workers’ compensation claim.
Utilizing Behavioral Health Telemedicine
When a lack of progress in recovery is due to an individual’s mental or emotional hurdles, telemedicine services can provide the necessary psychological intervention. Concentra, for instance, offers virtual behavioral health services as part of its telemedicine service, Concentra Telemed. This additional feature gives injured employees access to qualified mental health professionals remotely, ensuring they can regain their lives and return to work efficiently.
Lowering Barriers to Mental Health Care
Access to mental health professionals is a significant challenge for many employees. A shortage of mental health professionals affects more than 152 million people in the U.S. Companies like Concentra are stepping in to fill this gap by providing remote access to clinical psychologists through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), a multi-state licensing alliance. This concept has proved a game-changer in bridging the mental health care gap in the workplace.
Combating the Stigma Around Workplace Mental Health
Telemedicine also plays a vital role in breaking down the stigma often associated with mental health in the workplace. Having a private virtual space for mental health support can significantly reduce the barriers to seeking help. Changes in state workers’ compensation policies also make recommending mental health support to coworkers more feasible. Regardless of the perceived occupational hazard level or industry type, implementing preventive and treatment solutions for mental health can foster a psychologically safe workplace culture.
Enhancing Mental Health for Improved Injury Outcomes
With services like Concentra Telemed, employers and payors can benefit from improved injury recovery times and reduced workers’ compensation expenses. By including a team of mental health professionals in their telemedicine services, they address the biopsychosocial aspects of occupational injuries, aiding in faster recovery times and lessening the overall duration and cost of workers’ compensation cases.