Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have a significant impact on an individual’s mental health, especially for those who have experienced traumatic events in the workplace, and for those who have experienced a traumatic event while on the job, navigating the workers’ compensation system to obtain the necessary support and benefits can be daunting. This is why understanding the relationship between PTSD and workers’ compensation is crucial in ensuring individuals receive the support they need.

The Prevalence of PTSD

PTSD is ubiquitous among people and can be triggered from a range of scenarios from assault to on-job accidents. Let us put PTSD into perspective with these stats gathered by Forbes:

• 70% of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime
• 20% of people who experience a traumatic event will develop PTSD
• About 13 million people have PTSD in a given year (around 5% of the U.S population)
• 1 in 13 people will develop PTSD at some point in their life
• Witnessing the murder or severe injury of another person causes PTSD in 7.3% of individuals
• Of people diagnosed with PTSD, around 22.3% fall into the category of having severe PTSD symptoms
• About one in three people who experience severe trauma will develop PTSD
• Around 20% of firefighters and paramedics have PTSD which is like the rates seen in combat veterans
• Around 100,000 active-duty police officers suffer from PTSD in combination with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation

Qualifying for PTSD Compensation

In 2018, workers’ compensation benefits in Florida were expanded to include PTSD for firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and other first responders. This expansion allows first responders to obtain benefits for mental health conditions that are not related to physical injury.

Commonly in first responders, PTSD symptoms can look like intrusive memories/thoughts, difficulty sleeping, avoidance of places, people, and activities, extreme mood things, difficulty concentrating, negative changes in overall mood/thoughts, and changes in physical or emotional reactions. PTSD can also resonate in physical symptoms including chronic pain, headaches, chest pain, sweating, and dizziness.

To receive PTSD benefits under worker’s compensation though, individuals do have to have to obtain a diagnosis from a licensed psychiatrist based on certain scenarios including:

• Witnessing the death of a minor
• Witnessing an injury to a minor that was eventually fatal
• Witness a death/homicide
• Witnessing, treating, or moving an individual with a fatal injury can include: Decapitation, Degloving, Enucleation, Evisceration, Exposure to organs, Severance, Third-degree burn on 9% or more of the body
• Witnesses, treating, or transporting an individual who attempted suicide

This diagnosis must also confirm that the PTSD has manifested within one year of witnessing the event. Benefits are not available for the following conditions according to Florida Law:

• Depression from being out of work or losing employment
• Conditions that result from “stress, fight or excitement” only
• Pre-existing pain, mental, psychological, emotional condition, or other subjective complaints that relevant medical findings cannot substantiate

In addition, there is a limited amount of time that an individual can receive benefits for a mental health condition and is typically no longer than six months.

Contacting an Attorney

Seeking workers’ compensation claims for mental health conditions can be challenging regardless of your location. It is crucial to enlist the expertise of a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney to advocate for you. An attorney is well-versed in navigating the complexities of such cases and can effectively build a strong evidential foundation for your claim, increasing your likelihood of a favorable outcome.

If you or a loved one is suffering from PTSD related to a work-related incident, our team at Gechtman Law can provide you with the legal support and guidance needed to navigate the workers’ compensation process and seek the necessary benefits for treatment and recovery.