Understanding workers’ compensation approaches and practices to workplace psychological injuries

Reasons for the study

Workers’ compensation agencies in Canada and Australia have a growing interest in workplace psychological injuries. These conditions, which are increasingly recognized and included as compensable injuries, have greater wage replacement and health-care costs than physical injuries. However, there is currently little research evidence on differences and similarities in systems-level approaches to reducing the number and impact of work-related psychological injuries. This study addresses this gap by mapping the approaches used by regulators, prevention agencies and workers’ compensation organizations to prevent and manage psychological injury in jurisdictions in Canada and Australia. The study also draws on interviews with representatives across jurisdictions to better understand approaches being used to inform future prevention and management efforts.

Objectives of the study

Target audience

The results of this project will be of value to prevention agencies, particularly worker compensation boards, in Canada, Australia and elsewhere, that are interested in workplace- and systems-level initiatives to support worker mental health and prevent psychological injury.