Everyone has the occasional bad day at work and stress is an inherent part of most jobs. As such, it is not unusual for a worker to feel down or anxious from time to time. But if your job is seriously impacting your emotional well-being and mental health, it is very important to have the matter addressed. If you are experiencing work-related depression or anxiety, you should consider the condition as being as serious as a physical injury.
Unfortunately, far too often a worker may opt to suffer in silence rather than seek the help he or she needs. But the fact is, chronic depression can seriously impact your work and personal life, and it is important that you address the issue as soon as possible. Fortunately, it is quite possible that you can put your workers’ compensation benefits toward getting the help you require.
In order to get treatment for depression that is not related to an on-the-job injury, you may be required to provide evidence that your condition was in some way work-related. Typically, you will have to show medical causation, which can be demonstrated by a psychiatrist or doctor’s evaluation. And you will also have to show legal causation, meaning that you fulfill the state’s criteria for receiving benefits.
Demonstrating legal causation could be the highest hurdle you’ll have to clear prior to being granted your benefits. So if you are having difficulty getting the compensation necessary for your treatment or if you want assistance filing your claim, it could be a good idea to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. The attorney can help you demonstrate that you meet the criteria to receive the benefits you need.
