When injury strikes, it impacts not only the injured person, but the people around them – most significantly, their family. And it’s usually their family who can have the most influential impact on supporting an injured worker through their recovery.
Associate Professor Sam Harvey, Chief Psychiatrist at the Black Dog Institute says family support is a key aspect of treatment.
But who supports them?
Legislative entitlements for partners and relatives of an injured worker are limited and differ across states. Most have some provisions for family support such as psychoeducation and there are community-based support services that can be of help. Increasingly, employers are extending their employee support programs to spouses.
EML is keen to understand what families might need as the next critical element in our model that helps people get their lives back.
When we work together in partnership, we can support workers and their families, through difficult times during injury and support getting well again, returning to work and the community.
Associate Professor Sam Harvey, Chief Psychiatrist at the Black Dog Institute says familial support is a key aspect of treatment.
A psychiatrist will explain to the patient what’s going on in terms of their symptoms and how to understand them, and about treatment. If you have key people who are supporting you: a partner, your children, your family – they also need to know that information. Often as a psychiatrist I will be meeting with the person’s family so that they can understand those aspects too – so they know what we’re working towards.”
We ask every injured worker if they would like to give us permission to speak about their claim with a trusted relative.
For more, visit eml.com.au/supportservices
