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Mental Health Condition Discrimination in Georgia

People who suffers from mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have often been treated unfairly.  In the past, people suffering from these condition were often teased and ridiculed.

Fortunately, a better understanding of mental health conditions and how to treat these conditions has allowed our society to work toward moving past this unfair treatment.  But, there are some areas of the law where people suffering from mental health conditions still receive unfair treatment.  One of those areas is Georgia’s workers’ compensation law.  As the law in Georgia currently stands, an employee can develop terrible PTSD from an undisputed work-related incident and still not be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Why do Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws treat employees with mental health injuries unfairly?

Why does this happen? Because Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws still operate under the idea that mental health conditions should not be covered unless they are caused by a physical injury. In 1998, the Georgia Supreme Court decided that the word “injury” in the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act only meant a physical injury and did not mean a mental injury.  The case making this decision involved a park maintenance supervisor who worked 100 hours over 5 days to help pull over 400 caskets and 18 bodies out of the flooded Flint River.  He developed PTSD and was ultimately unable to continue working.

Nevertheless, the Georgia Supreme Court decided that any changes in the workers’ compensation law to cover mental injuries had to be made by the Georgia legislature.  The legislature has not made any changes in the law to expand coverage for mental injuries since that time.  So, Georgia still has workers’ compensation rules that only cover mental health conditions that are caused by a physical injury.

Parkinsons disease from Agent OrangeWhy does it matter whether there is a physical injury?

This rule leads to absurd results and incredible unfairness.  For example, consider a convenience store clerk.  A definite risk of working as a convenience store clerk is robbery.  A convenience store clerk who is screamed at, tied up, and held at gunpoint for hours but not physically injured would not be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits for PTSD or any other mental health condition.  Why? Because there was no physical injury.

However, a convenience store clerk who was punched, pushed to the ground, or struck with an object would probably be able to get medical treatment through workers’ compensation.  Why? Simply because there was a physical injury as part of the work-related incident.

Does it really make any sense that a physical injury is required to cause a mental health condition? To me, it makes absolutely no sense.  Certainly, physical injuries and the pain they cause can often lead to depression and other mental health conditions.  But many people with mental health conditions develop those conditions without any connection to a physical injury.

So, what is the reason for only covering mental health conditions when there is a physical injury? Frankly, I don’t see a good reason.

Do other states allow employees to receive workers’ compensation benefits for mental injuries?

Yes. Many other states do allow injured workers to receive workers’ compensation benefits for mental injuries even when there is no accompanying physical injury.  Georgia’s neighbor state South Carolina is among the states that allow recovery of benefits.  The Veterans Administration has also recognized the reality of PTSD from mental stress and pays veterans benefits for it.

Each states workers’ compensation laws are different.  Unfortunately, Georgia and some other states still discriminate against employees who suffer mental injuries at work.  Hopefully, Georgia’s laws will be changed to recognize the progress that has been made in the area of mental health conditions and their treatment.  Until that happens, employees in Georgia who are exposed to extremely stressful situations at work and develop PTSD or another mental health condition will continue receive unfair treatment.

What if I have other questions about workers compensation?

Georgia’s workers compensation system can be very confusing.  You have to worry about getting the treatment you need and paying your bills while also worrying about not missing any deadlines that could cause you to lose your right to receive workers compensation benefits.

If you have questions, I would recommend that you try to get answers.  To find out more about how to schedule a time to talk to me about your workers compensation questions, just read this short article.

Jason Perkins is an attorney who specializes in representing injured workers.  He regularly publishes videos and write blog articles about Georgia’s workers compensation system and issues that are important to injured workers and their families.

To be notified of Jason’s new workers compensation videos, subscribe to his Georgia Workers Compensation Video Series channel on YouTube by clicking the subscribe button below.

Brittney-lee orourkeBrittney-lee orourke
05:23 18 Feb 22
Amazing! Jason and his team were very helpful and had the best communication by far. Walked me though every step with great detail and had answers for any question I had. They handled my case better then I could imagine, it was a weird case and they stayed on top of it and kept me updated every step of the way! Highly recommend this Team! Thanks so much to Jason and his Awesome team!-Brittney
China JonesChina Jones
18:58 08 Feb 22
I absolutely love this group of attorneys, when I was at my lowest they did everything they could to help me get justice for my injury. I believe if I were to have never picked my phone up and called the amazing group that helped me I definitely would not have received my idea of rights. If you have an issue and are just not sure please understand that they will help you, stay in contact, answer any question you have, and for sure get you the justice you deserve I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I will definitely refer them to anyone who has been hurt because they most definitely care about their work and clients.
Luv LocsLuv Locs
16:08 15 Jan 22
The entire law office was attentive and responsive to all of my concerns dealing with my workers compensation case.
moombimoombi
21:14 02 Jan 22
If you must get a lawyer involved, you’d do well to work with Jason Perkins and his team at Perkins Studdard Law.They were thorough in gathering information and in sharing all the steps in the workers comp process specific to my case. Jason and the team were responsive to my bevy of questions and concerns.I appreciated the informative videos and consultations provided by Jason over video meetings and multiple phone calls.I hope I’m never injured on the job again. However, if I am and if my employer responds as my previous employer did, I’ll contact Perkins Studdard Law immediately to handle the case.
Dana BessDana Bess
23:57 10 Dec 21
Everyone at Perkins Studdard was kind and professional. They were always extremely responsive and answered all questions that I had and followed up to make sure I had an understanding of what was going on along with emailing videos to explain every step of my case so I would know what to expect and be prepared. Jason is a very genuine person and I trusted him with my case. He answered so many questions for me even before I retained him as my WC lawyer. I highly recommend him and his associates at Perkins Studdard.
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