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Workers’ compensation for mental health injuries

On Behalf of | Oct 2, 2016 | Workplace Injuries |

Most people in Minnesota have heard about conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health challenges that people may face after exposure to certain situations. If you have wondered if such things are covered under Minnesota’s workers’ compensation program, you are not alone. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Workers’ Compensation Division explains that some cases of PTSD may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits but only in select cases.

PTSD is included in a group of injuries in which a mental injury is caused by mental stress. Workers’ compensation coverage is limited for these situations. However, when mental and physical stresses or injuries overlap, more coverage may be available. For example, physical injuries that result from mental stress or mental injuries that result from physical trauma may be covered by workers’ compensation.

When making a claim of physical injury based upon mental stress, you will need to prove both the medical connection between the stress and the injury. You will also need to legally prove that the stress was beyond what one would consider normal for the job situation and that other employees were subject to the same stress. Additionally, any physical injury you experience must be able to be treated on its own separate from any mental health condition. When making a claim of mental injury based upon physical stress, you will need to prove the medical connection between the physical trauma and the alleged resulting mental injury.

To learn more about mental health claims, please feel free to visit the mental and physical work injury page of our Minnesota workers’ compensation website.

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