Infographic: Workers’ Comp Coverage of PTSD and Mental Stress Across Canada

WORKERS’ COMP MENTAL STRESS COVERAGE PRESUMPTIONS BY JURISDICTION: DISORDERS COVERED

KEY

Any DSM-recognized mental disorder
PTSD only
No mental stress coverage presumptions

WORKERS’ COMP MENTAL STRESS COVERAGE PRESUMPTIONS BY JURISDICTION: WORKERS COVERED

KEY

Any worker exposed to workplace trauma or stressors
Emergency response, police, firefighters and other specific classes only
No mental stress coverage presumptions

WORKERS’ COMP MENTAL STRESS COVERAGE: ACUTE vs. CHRONIC ONSET

KEY

Both acute and chronic onset
Acute reactions only

WORKERS’ COMP MENTAL STRESS COVERAGE: TRIGGERS

 

 

KEY

Traumatic events and workplace stressors
Traumatic events only

Note
(1) In Saskatchewan, triggers are traumatic events but the latter is defined broadly to include harassment

 

WORKERS’ COMP COVERAGE OF PTSD & MENTAL STRESS BY JURISDICTION

JURISDICTION	TYPE(S) OF MENTAL STRESS COVERED(1)	TRIGGERS	SCOPE OF PRESUMPTION(S)(2)
			Type of Disorder(s)	Type(s) of Worker
Alberta	Acute and Chronic	Trauma and Stressors	PTSD only	*First responders*Correctional officers *Emergency dispatchers *Firefighters *Paramedics *Peace officers *Police officers
BC	Acute and Chronic	Trauma and Stressors	Any DSM recognized mental disorder	*Correctional officers*Emergency medical assistants *Firefighters *Police officers *Sheriffs
Manitoba	Acute only	Trauma only	PTSD only	Any worker
New Brunswick	Acute only	Trauma only	PTSD only	Emergency response workers, i.e.:*Firefighters *Police officers *Paramedics
Newfoundland	Acute and Chronic	Trauma only	Any DSM recognized mental disorder	Any worker
Nova Scotia	Acute only	Trauma only	PTSD only	Front-line or emergency response workers, i.e.:*Firefighters *Police officers *Correctional officers *Paramedics *Nurses *Continuing care assistants *Emergency-response dispatchers
Ontario	Acute and Chronic	Trauma and Stressors	PTSD only	*Firefighters & investigators*Police officers *Emergency response teamers *Paramedics *Emergency medical attendants *Ambulance service managers *Correctional institution workers *Dispatch workers *College of Nurses members who provide direct patient care *Bailiffs *Probation officers *Special constables
Prince Edward Island	Acute and Chronic	Trauma and Stressors	Any DSM recognized mental disorder	Any worker
Qu‚bec	Acute and Chronic	Trauma and Stressors	NA	NA
Saskatchewan	Acute and chronic	Trauma only	Any DSM recognized mental disorder	Any worker
Northwest Territories & Nunavut	Acute and chronic	Trauma only	NA	NA
Yukon	Acute only	Trauma only	PTSD only	Emergency response workers, i.e.:*Firefighters *Police officers *Paramedics

 

Notes
(1) Acute means the mental stress was an acute reaction to one or more traumatic events at work; chronic means the mental stress developed gradually over time
(2) Presumptions mean the particular form of mental stress is presumed to be work-related when experienced by a worker in the category of workers the presumption covers