Mental Health Claims Increasing

Mental Health Claims Increasing

by | Nov 28, 2022 | Claims, Health & Wellbeing, Mental Health, Work Health & Safety, Workers Compensation

The rise in mental health claims in workers' compensation highlights a growing challenge for employers, insurers, and regulators. With psychological injuries now representing a significant portion of workplace claims, the system faces mounting pressure to balance fair compensation with sustainability. For businesses, understanding this trend is essential to ensure compliance, manage costs, and support employee wellbeing.

Read more: Mental Health Claims Increasing

The Growing Trend

Recent data shows a steady increase in claims related to stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions. Key drivers include:

  • Workplace pressures such as high workloads, tight deadlines, and organisational change.
  • Post-pandemic impacts, with employees reporting heightened stress and burnout.
  • Greater awareness and reduced stigma, encouraging more workers to lodge claims.

Implications for Employers

  • Rising claims can lead to higher premiums and increased scrutiny from regulators.
  • Employers must strengthen mental health policies, including proactive support and early intervention strategies.
  • A focus on workplace culture and resilience programs can reduce risk and demonstrate compliance.

Impact on Employees

  • Workers benefit from structured recovery support, including counseling and rehabilitation services.
  • However, stricter thresholds mean claims must be well-documented with clear medical evidence.
  • Early reporting and engagement with return?to?work programs improve outcomes.

Insurer and Legal Perspectives

  • Insurers face growing costs but gain predictability through reforms emphasizing rehabilitation.
  • Legal practitioners must adapt strategies to new entitlement rules and dispute resolution frameworks, particularly for psychological injury claims.

Conclusion

The increase in mental health claims underscores the importance of a proactive, compliant approach to workplace wellbeing. Employers, employees, insurers, and legal professionals must work together to ensure that compensation systems remain fair, sustainable, and focused on recovery.

Source: Seda

Title: Workplace face escalating mental health claims without action

Read time: 2mins

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Improving Psychological Injury Outcomes

Improving Psychological Injury Outcomes

by | Oct 10, 2022 | Injury Management, Workers Compensation

Psychological injuries in the workplace, such as those caused by stress, bullying, harassment, or trauma, are complex and often harder to manage than physical injuries. Recognising this challenge, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has partnered with the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association (ARPA) to introduce new initiatives aimed at improving return-to-work outcomes for employees with psychological injuries.

ABILITY GROUP, specialists in workers’ compensation, health, and safety, is at the forefront of helping employers navigate these changes and create safer, more supportive workplaces.

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icare Claims Service Providers

icare Claims Service Providers

by | Oct 6, 2022 | Claims, Workers Compensation

On 6 October 2022, icare announced a major change to the NSW workers’ compensation scheme by appointing six new Claims Service Providers (CSPs). Moreover, this initiative, effective from 1 January 2023, is designed to improve claims management, streamline processes, and deliver better outcomes for both employers and injured workers.

ABILITY GROUP, specialists in workers’ compensation, health, and safety, is supporting businesses to understand and adapt to these changes.

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Mental Health Month

Mental Health Month

by | Oct 3, 2022 | Health & Wellbeing, Mental Health

October's spotlight is on Mental Health Month, which raises awareness on the importance of wellness and helps people with resources and support to improve and wellbeing. With World Mental Health Day on 10th October, Australia aims to provide strategies, tips & support to help people in need.



Community events for the Month are held throughout October each year across Australia and coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10th October.  People can connect through various support channels such as conferences, online events, mindfulness workshops, charity walks, and learn from resource toolkits and other resilience strategies to cope with the mental stressors of daily life.

1 in 5 Australians experiences the following symptoms every year. For many people and businesses facing the impacts of daily stressors, including Covid, social isolation, rising living costs and so on, awareness and resilience have become more important in leading a more positive and fulfilling life.

Some tips to look on:

  • Connect with people and have good relationships

  • Stay physically active

  • Stay present in the moment (mindfulness)

  • Sleep early

  • Eat and drink healthily

  • Volunteer in the community

  • Learning ways to manage stress

  • Limit social media/screen time

  • Learn a new skill

  • Have a ‘You’ Day to do things you enjoy

In the workplace, employers can promote positive practices to promote mental wellness at work. This can lead to positive outcomes such as higher morale, better performance, less absenteeism and lower staff turnover. This can also reduce workers compensation claims related to ‘mental injury’.

Looking after your mental health matters and learning how to be resilient and mindful of your own wellbeing will help you thrive in your personal life and workplace.

Source: Mental Health Australia

Title: Mental Health Month

Read time: 7 mins