Work-related mental health conditions take a huge toll on worker health & productivity, with the negative impact felt by individuals themselves, their families & colleagues.
Work pressure, work related harassment or bullying, & exposure to workplace or occupational violence are all significant causes of work-related mental health conditions.
On average each year between 2012–13 to 2016–17:
- 6% of all serious workers compensation claims were for work-related mental health conditions.
- 7,140 Australians were compensated for work-related mental health conditions.
- 92% of serious work-related mental health condition claims were attributed to mental stress.
- 42% of serious work-related mental health condition claims were made by males & 58% by females.
The occupations most at risk of work-related mental health conditions were:
- Defence force members, fire fighters & police – 9% of serious mental health condition claims
- School teachers – 8% of serious mental health condition claims
- Health and welfare support workers – 6% of serious mental health condition claims.
The types of mental health conditions for which workers received compensation:
- Reaction to stressors – 37%
- Anxiety/Stress disorder – 31%
- Post-traumatic stress disorder – 12%
- Anxiety / depression combined – 11%
- Depression – 4%
The main causes of serious mental health condition claims were:
- Work pressure – 21%
- Work related harassment or bullying – 20%
- Exposure to workplace or occupational violence – 10%
Note: ‘Serious’ workers’ compensation claims relate to those claims where the injury or illness has resulted in one or more weeks off work.