- December 5, 2021
Requesting benefits only because you have developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could still be a reason to file an Ohio workers’ compensation claim. There might be a chance that you suffered from PTSD because of some misery that happened at your workplace. A mental condition of any type cannot only be considered as a reason for accepting the alternative health care coverage and compensation for the wages that you lost due to your absence from your workplace.
When an employee is injured due to an accident that happened at their work, we usually think of some physical injuries such as broken bones, spines fractures, lacerations, or other physical injuries. However, some injuries may not be easily apparent. Such injuries are commonly known as psychological traumas. These traumas include post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety that can be caused by something from their work.
It is vital to know that programs such as social security can back a claim for long-term disability benefits in cases of severe scenarios of mental health issues and PTSD. The main benchmark is that the signs must prevent people from carrying on their employment activities for a year or more.
The following statistics from the U.S. National Library of Medicine show how PTSD affects the first responders and the people around the tragic event:
- An estimated 28% of mass shooting survivors may develop PTSD
- Around 28% of people who were the victims or witnesses of a mass shooting may develop PTSD
- About 7-19% of police officers suffer from PTSD; Police officers are most likely to kill themselves after traumatic events that are linked to PTSD.
What is PTSD?
PTSD means traumatic stress that occurred due to a violent event. This event includes shooting, terrorism, a natural disaster, or a serious car accident. This can even happen if you just witnessed any of these events, depending on the nature of the person.
Some people might recover from it soon, but others continue to experience it even after several months. These effects include:
- Emotional Effects: A feeling of helplessness, terror, anger, guilt, pain, or finding it difficult to love someone or express their feelings are all emotional effects.
- Cognitive Effects: When someone cannot make a decision because of their trauma or cannot concentrate properly, does not trust anyone, decreased self-esteem, and cutting themselves from everyone.
- Interpersonal Effects: The indication of this trait includes starting a conflict with loved ones, alienation from society, not working properly at their jobs, feeling of rejection, and guilt of everything.
Traumatic Work Experiences That Can Lead to PTSD:
If you have been involved in any event that was disturbing and shocking, it is likely that you may develop the symptoms of PTSD. Some of the examples that might be the reason for developing PTSD are:
- A teacher who witnessed a shooting at a school
- A construction worker who witnessed the fatal accident of their co-worker at a construction site
- Bank teller threatened with gunshots during a robbery
Mental Health Problems and Ohio Workers’ Compensation:
Mental health problems and PTSD cannot be as obvious as a physical injury. However, when someone is suffering from PTSD, they may face difficulties focusing while performing their daily chores. Some of the most common symptoms that are suffered by a post-traumatic stress disorder patient are misery, insomnia, hypervigilance, difficulty remembering and concentrating. People might get compensated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder if they can prove that their psychological issues are due to the abundant stress at work.
Mentioning Your PTSD in a Workers’ Compensation Claim:
The Ohio workers’ compensation claim can help for the coverage of the psychological trauma or mental disorder by citing the information about how they suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after an injury at their workplace. The claim should mention that you were unable to go to your job because of the trauma. When you are diagnosed with PTSD by any psychiatrist, psychologist, or other health care professional, they might recommend therapy and medication for the mental health of the said victim.
How a Lawyer Can Help You:
If you or a loved one is suffering from work-related stress or anxiety, you should seek the help of an Ohio workers’ compensation lawyer. While you are struggling with the symptoms of PTSD and mental disorder, succeeding in recovering financial income after a traumatic work event can be very crucial. A professional and experienced lawyer can help you secure your rights and help you to file a complaint against the defendant. They can also negotiate your wages, and handle any legal hurdles that could arise in the way of your deserved compensation.