Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Nova Scotia has secured new agreements with three mental health service providers to bolster support for workers and employers in the province.
These agreements are part of the board’s broader strategy to address workplace injuries, particularly those related to gradual onset psychological injury (GPI), starting this September, it said.
Beginning Sept. 1, 2024, Nova Scotia will recognize GPI as a compensable condition. This includes injuries stemming from prolonged stressors such as bullying and harassment, a change facilitated by recent legislative adjustments. To support this initiative, WCB has introduced new mental health service capacities aimed at easing the burden on the healthcare system and improving access to care.
“WCB is bringing new mental health service capacity to Nova Scotia, easing the pressure on our health care system and helping us deliver the exceptional service Nova Scotians deserve,” said Karen Adams, CEO of WCB Nova Scotia.
Three partners
The new mental health service agreements include partnerships with Homewood Health, The Newly Institute, and EHN Canada’s Outpatient Service. These providers will expand the availability of mental health care and ensure support for both workers and employers as part of the recovery process. This initiative also aims to promote the healthy role of work in the recovery journey.
Homewood Health, known for its extensive history of aiding Canadians with psychological conditions, will bring its clinical excellence and focus on sustainable recovery to the province. The Newly Institute, a national leader in psychological injury recovery, is set to open a new location in Halifax. EHN Canada’s Outpatient Service will offer virtual mental health services across the province, leveraging its evidence-based treatment approaches.
Staff being trained to provide trauma-informed services
WCB Nova Scotia’s broader preparations for addressing GPI include forming a new service delivery team, featuring roles dedicated to navigation services and decision-making. This team is undergoing intensive training to provide trauma-informed services to workers and employers.
The introduction of these new mental health services addresses concerns raised by workers and employers regarding the availability of care for gradual onset psychological injuries within the province’s strained healthcare system, it said in a press release.