An article published earlier this year in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine discusses mental health in the workplace and how employers do not do enough to help employees who suffer from mental health illnesses.
In some key findings, and ones that should spur companies to make mental health a priority, they say that mental health illnesses can:
- Severely limit an individual’s productivity
- Present as physical symptoms that lead to long-term health problems
When people discuss mental health in the workplace, they often do so under the assumption that people already have mental health illnesses before they start work somewhere. At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, we know that many people actually develop mental health issues because of their work environment and this can lead to severe workplace problems.
Today, we want to talk about workplace causes of mental health illnesses and how they should be treated as seriously as all other workplace injuries.
If you need a Los Angeles mental health claims attorney, you can count on our team to have your back.
What The Issues Are
Workplace mental health issues go beyond simply being unhappy at work. Did you know that work is one of the leading causes of stress in our lives? For many people, especially those in certain jobs, their mental health is affected by their work. Here are some of the main causes of workplace stress that can lead to dangerous mental health illnesses:
- Heavy workload or responsibilities
- Long work hours with low pay
- Poor or ineffective management
- Dangerous working conditions
- Being unsure of advancement opportunities
- And more
We also want to note that workplace discrimination or sexual harassment are major causes of workplace stress. Often, people who experience discrimination or harassment are not able to leave their jobs and are afraid to report the incidents. Progress is being made on this front thanks to the “Me Too” movement, but we still have a long way to go.
We know that there are many jobs in which workers are more prone to mental health illnesses.
- Social workers
- Law enforcement officers and dispatchers
- Firefighters and EMS personnel
- Medical professionals
We also know that workers in ANY job that is high-stress run the risk of developing a mental health illness. No worker should be denied a workers’ compensation claim for a serious mental health issue.
What You Can Do
If you or someone you love is having trouble with a mental health issue that was caused by their work environment, you may need to seek legal help. At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, we want to be here for you. We know that workplace mental health illnesses can be debilitating. They should also be covered by workers’ compensation insurance, but they often get denied.
When you need a Los Angeles mental health claims attorney, you can reach out to us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling one of these numbers: 818-812-5639 or 800-747-3447.
