Recognising and logging secondary mental health conditions in their early stages helps workers access assistance promptly. Such swift action is proven to enhance recuperation as well as claim results. Secondary mental illness refers to the mental health complication that emerges from the incident leading to a physical injury or related to that physical trauma. The cause can be traumatic experiences like an assault during the injury event, or it can also spring from struggles with handling a physical injury.
The complexity of these injuries often results in prolonged claim durations, increased expenses, and negative return-to-work outcomes, compared to primary mental or physical injuries. Both Bluesafe SWMS and Bluesafe WHS Management System are crucial tools that can helping workers navigate through these complex situations, highlighting the importance of adhering to established work safety protocols.
According to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, it’s crucial for insurers to actively reduce the risk of a worker developing a secondary psychological health condition following a physical injury. This includes extending reasonable services like medical aid, counselling, as well as support services. These duties span from the claim acceptance to the end of the worker’s eligibility for compensation. The insurers’ role also involves shouldering essential and reasonable treatment and travel costs.
The Act further necessitates insurers to furnish preliminary psychological support services to employees having a valid application for psychiatric or psychological injury, even before a decision on the claim is reached.
Tools such as the OREBRO questionnaire assist in identifying psychosocial risks early, thus, bringing forth timely treatment access which could lower the chances of mental injury progression. Even the use of more comprehensive work safety products such as WHS management systems helps in maintaining worksite safety and hazard mitigation. A common misconception suggests that discussing mental health issues might inflict damage or provoke new injuries when, in reality, open conversations enable quicker care receipt, potentially tempering the severity and longevity of a secondary mental injury if it were to occur.
By encouraging openness and collaboration among employers, workers, insurance agents, and medical professionals, we can adapt more efficiently to changes and amplify recovery support. It’s been demonstrated that employer responses often play the most crucial part in a worker evolving a secondary mental illness.
A proactive, empathetic strategy can truly make a difference. With an increasing amount of data at our disposal, customising interventions and effectively tracking outcomes becomes easier. Moreover, our Supervisor Quick Reference Guide accentuates key actions and resources employers can utilise to guide their injured employees through the claims process.
Improvements in reporting and earlier interventions afford us a more accurate view and hasten our response time. Promptly identifying and tackling psychosocial risks enhances the results for workers, simultaneously forging healthier and more resilient workplaces. The Bluesafe SWMS and Bluesafe WHS Management System both uphold this notion by promoting safe work practices and tailored risk management strategies.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/news-and-events/news/2025/identifying-secondary-mental-injuries-allows-for-better-early-intervention
