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Remove the stigma around work-related psychological injuries: maintain open and regular communication

Best practice

Communicating openly with all workers and not hesitating to speak to workers who’ve experienced a work-related psychological injury.

Why this is important

Workers who’ve experienced a work-related psychological injury are less likely to be contacted by their supervisor or other members of their workplace than those who have sustained a physical injury1. This may be because some people lack confidence and feel nervous discussing mental health conditions. However, all workers have better return to work outcomes when their employer, supervisor or rehab and return to work coordinator make early, direct and meaningful contact after a work-related injury – and then maintain that contact.

Your toolkit

Build your confidence to have conversations about a work-related psychological injury:

  • Check in with how the worker is feeling at the beginning of each conversation; this simple strategy can be very meaningful.  
  • R U OK has tips and a guide to having conversation with someone about how they are feeling.
  • Ask the worker how they prefer to communicate. Some may find frequent communication stressful; others may prefer a check-in at the same time each week.  
  • Return to Work provides some practical do’s and do not’s for conversations with a distressed employee.  
  • Beyond Blue has a case study about an employee diagnosed with depression who is returning to the workplace.   
  • The Australian Human Rights Commission has a guide on how to talk about mental illness and tips on conversations with workers about their mental health.

If the worker needs support, they can access the Workers’ Psychological Support Service - a free and confidential service for Queensland workers who have experienced a work-related psychological injury.

 

[1] Social Research Centre, 2018, ‘National return to work survey 2018’, p.38

 

Further information

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