On December 8, 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the first insights from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, which was conducted between 2021 and 2021.
The study revealed that 15 per cent of Australians aged between 16 to 85 years – experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress. It also found that:
- Women were more likely to experience high, or very high levels of psychological distress than men (19 per cent compared with 12 per cent); and
- One in five (20 per cent) of Australians aged 16-34 years experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress, more than twice the rate of those aged 65-85 years (9 per cent).
If you are suffering from severe work-related stress, you may be able to submit a claim for workers’ compensation. Work-related stress can be caused by a very wide variety of factors (including but certainly not limited to):
- Strict deadlines
- Long hours
- Intense workloads
- Inadequate working environment
- Lack of appropriate resources
- Lack of equipment
- Harassment and bullying
- Discrimination
- Workplace conflicts
- Crisis incidents
Work-related stress can impact a person in many ways, both physically (e.g. fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, heart palpitations, and trouble sleeping) and psychologically (e.g. depression, anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, and hopelessness).
What is required to have the best chance of a successful stress-related workers’ comp claim?
In order to make a claim for workers’ compensation, you must first have a medical practitioner verify that the cause of your injury is work-related (can be a direct cause or a significant contributing factor). Seeking supportive medical professional help early is also important for your personal wellbeing.
If your medical practitioner determines that your injury is indeed work-related, they will issue you with a Workers’ Compensation First Certificate of Capacity. Similar to a medical certificate, this will outline a diagnosis of your condition, your fitness to work, any restrictions on work duties due to the injury, and other details. You will also need to complete a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form and give them both to your employer to start the claim process. The employer is not required to do anything to assist you with this, they do not even have to let you know you may be entitled to make the claim
Here at Anvil Legal Workers Compensation Lawyers, we are happy to provide you with some free over-the-phone advice on your rights and obligations under the WA Workers Compensation Act to try and make your workers compensation claim process as stress-free as possible. We offer a No Win No Fee Workers’ Compensation Solution* to eligible clients. This means that generally, you do not have to pay out of your own pocket for our legal fees until there has been a successful conclusion of your stress-related workers compensation claim.
