Safe & Secure: Gradual Onset Psychological Injury

New legislation that provides workers’ compensation coverage for gradual onset psychological injury comes into effect on September 1st. We all have a role to play in making workplaces psychologically safe, and in supporting early and safe return to work when injury occurs.

Each month from now until September, this e-newsletter from WCB Nova Scotia will help keep you informed and connected with information, tools and resources that support you and your employees, and help you to build and support psychologically safer workplaces.

A new WCB service model

WCB’s service model for gradual onset psychological injury will be different, powered by new approaches to support timely recovery and return to work. It means workers will experience added supports as soon as the claim is opened, and even before a claim decision is made.

Our new Client Care Navigators will provide that important service, guiding workers and employers through the claim process and connecting workers to mental health supports in the community, helping set the path for recovery and return to work on day one. 

They’ll do that while Entitlement Decision Makers gather the information needed to make a claim decision. Once the claim is approved, it will be turned over to a Case Manager.

Find out more about what workers and employers can expect from the WCB’s service for gradual onset psychological injury

Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers

What’s covered under Nova Scotia’s new gradual onset psychological injury legislation?

Diagnosed psychological injuries that are the result of significant workplace stressors or an accumulation over time of significant workplace stressors that happen at work or because of the work someone does.

What’s not covered?

Mental stress from interpersonal conflicts (except for workplace harassment or bullying) or actions/decisions of the employer related to the worker’s employment are not covered.

For more questions and answers about gradual onset psychological injury, be sure to check out the following links:                         

Q&A GENERAL

Q&A WORKERS

Q&A EMPLOYERS
 

Employers have a responsibility to provide a workplace that’s physically and psychologically safe. We can help. Find helpful tools and resources on worksafeforlife.ca.

For more best practice tools and resources that can help support workers’ positive mental health, especially for those who work in emergency service occupations, visit the First Responders Mental Health website.

Preventing workplace bullying and harassment

In other jurisdictions that provide workers’ compensation coverage for gradual onset psychological injury, many of the accepted injury claims are caused by bullying or harassment in the workplace.

  • Workplace bullying involves repeated inappropriate behaviours, direct or indirect, verbal or physical, conducted by one or more people against someone or others at work, in a manner that undermines their right to dignity.
  • Workplace harassment is improper conduct by an individual, that is directed at and offensive to another individual in the workplace, including at any event or any location related to work, and that the individual knew or ought reasonably to have known would cause offence or harm.

Having plans and policies in place to prevent bullying and harassment will help support a psychologically safe workplace. Review this information from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) on Bullying in the Workplace.

Work can be part of recovery from a psychological injury

Supporting timely and safe return to work after injury is a top priority and a key part of the service that WCB Nova Scotia provides for workers and employers. Work is healthy and is often an important part of recovery. In fact, work is the single biggest contributing factor for a successful recovery from workplace injury, giving people a sense of self-worth, and the income they rely on to support themselves and their families.

Supporting safe and timely return to work for a gradual onset psychological injury will require more collaboration and different approaches and supports than physical injuries. Making sure your workplace has an effective return-to-work plan that includes psychological injury is a good first step.

Find out how to build your return-to-work plan.

More information about Gradual Onset Psychological Injury

Read the Draft Psychological Injury Policy and Policy Background Paper, stay connected and receive Policy updates by subscribing here.

Access Mental Health Supports Now

If you or someone you know needs mental health support now, help is available.

  • For immediate assistance in Nova Scotia, contact the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis line toll-free at 1-888-429-8167.
  • The 988 Suicide Crisis Line provides urgent, live, trauma-informed support by phone and text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Community Navigators are standing by to help connect Nova Scotians with the mental health services they need, simply by dialing 211.
  • For non-emergency advice about mental health and addictions, call 811.

Visit the Government of Nova Scotia’s Mental Health and Wellbeing website for more community mental health supports.