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Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada was slow compared to other countries. If you’re fortunate enough to have received two COVID-19 vaccines, you probably breathed a sigh of relief after a prolonged period of stress and uncertainty. The impact of COVID-19 on physical health is well-documented. As we move through the pandemic, we continue to learn about the mental health effects of COVID-19.
Survey results in a recent policy paper from the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH) showed that 81% of Canadian workers surveyed reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on their mental health. Those effects are wide-ranging and can affect your health and wellbeing in many ways. Canadians are reporting higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress and substance use. These impacts are not equally distributed within the population. Studies have found that health care and essential workers (physicians, nurses, personal support workers (PSWs), occupational therapists and social workers) are particularly vulnerable as they risk exposure to COVID-19 while delivering care in stressful environments.
Mental Health and Long-Term Disability
If your mental health is interfering with your ability to work, you should see your family doctor or other health care provider for help. Short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) benefits provide you with an income stream if you are unable to work due to your mental health condition. Unfortunately, many LTD claims are being denied. The reasons range from the presence of a pre-existing condition to insufficient medical evidence. In other cases, a medical examiner from the insurer has concluded that you are fit to return to work when the opposite is true. An LTD benefit denial creates financial uncertainty and adds another layer of stress that impacts your recovery and return to work.
Have your LTD benefits been denied? Contact MA LTD Lawyers for a free consultation about your benefits denial or any other questions related to your claim.