Research Updates

Work injury and deaths of despair

Gabrielle Lis

Research from the US confirms a connection between work absences of more than a week and deaths from drug overdose and suicide.

Workers who need more than a week off work following injury are more prone to deaths of despair, such as suicide and drug overdose, than those with brief absences. We need to better identify and treat post-injury depression and substance use disorders, and provide more mental health support for injured workers. The period following workplace injury can be a time of great vulnerability for the injured worker. Pain, uncertainty about employme...

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