When someone gets hurt at your organization, workers’ compensation or volunteer accident coverage is often adept at delivering timely coverage. However, in today’s world, a comprehensive approach to your members and volunteers’ health is crucial.

There are many reasons members and volunteers may experience depression after an injury, including:

  • Social isolation
  • Challenges performing everyday tasks
  • Financial stress
  • Chronic pain and more

The COVID-19 pandemic maybe be exacerbating mental health issues. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention revealed that since the pandemic began, the following percentages of U.S. adults have reported:

  • Anxiety and depression symptoms—31%
  • Trauma/stressor-related disorder symptoms—26%
  • Started or increased substance use—13%
  • Seriously considering suicide—11%

While you may consider a members’ and volunteers’ physical needs a priority in a workers’ compensation or volunteer accident claim, it is important to address the mental and emotional components, too.

Supporting Your Members’ and Volunteers’ Mental Health

Leaders in your organization can provide personal support to your members and volunteers in very simple ways:

  • Add some personal touch to professional relationships. It is important to keep up with your members and volunteers. Demonstrate you care by communicating beyond the necessities of tasks. Ask your members and volunteers how their family members are doing, things they’re looking forward to, interests outside of work and more. Showing interest in your members and volunteers’ personal lives can remind them how much you value them and their contributions.

 

  • Eliminate Post-related frustrations. Your members and volunteers have dealt with a lot the past two years. Do what you can to provide training, good equipment and a strong commitment to support their efforts as they support your organization. While all frustrations cannot be eliminated, if you can help with any, do so.

 

  • Don’t ignore mental health. Talk about member and volunteer stressors and their impact. Encourage self-care, therapy, healthy eating and an active lifestyle.

 

  • Implement a strong return-to-Post program. Bringing members and volunteers back to your Post reassures them of their future involvement and makes them feel productive. Be sure to manage the expectations of supervisors and other members so the injured parties don’t feel guilty that they can’t work at full capacity.

Supporting your members and volunteers’ physical and mental health after and injury can make all the difference in their recovery.

For more information on workers’ compensation and volunteer accident coverage for your Post, contact Lockton Affinity.