When it comes to workers’ compensation, you might think of big, physical accidents on the job. A good example could be a person loading a heavy piece of equipment and having it fall and harm them. That time out recovering and any particular disabilities both count for workers’ compensation since it happened at work.

Workers’ compensation may also cover mental health leave and disabilities like depression, but it is a little trickier to prove since you still have to show that your job is the source of said mental stress.

Defining mental disabilities

As defined by the Social Security Administration, there are many definitions of mental disabilities. This includes depression or anxiety as a result of cumulative work-related stress. But in the same way as Social Security Disability Insurance, it takes a lot of documentation to prove that you have a mental disability and more to prove that your time on the job is the root cause.

Proving depression at work

Medical records and other documentation at work are key to proving that you have depression. Work accidents, in particular, may cause these long-lasting effects on your mental and emotional state. But long-term stress may factor as well. For example, an overworked healthcare worker in an ER might have weeks of double shifts and overwhelming caseloads to show how it impacts them.

Once you have the evidence that you have depression, that it impacts your work, and that your work is the cause, you still have a lot of paperwork and processes to work through. It is important to rely on available resources to make sure you get the compensation you need in as smooth a way as possible.