Test for Psych Health Flow Chart

In the context of WorkplaceNL’s coverage, a psychological injury is one that results from a work-related traumatic event or events or is due to workplace harassment. A psychological injury diagnosis must be provided by an appropriate regulated health care professional (physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist or psychiatrist). The diagnosis must be described in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This may include, but is not limited to: acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorder or an anxiety or depressive disorder. 

In the context of WorkplaceNL’s coverage, workplace harassment involves aggressive, intimidating or discriminatory conduct by a person against a worker that adversely affects the worker’s psychological health and safety. Workplace harassment may involve repeated conduct or comments, or a single serious occurrence. 

WorkplaceNL covers psychological injuries resulting from workplace harassment when: 

• The injury happens on the job. 

• The harassment involves aggressive, intimidating or discriminatory behaviour that harmed the worker’s psychological health and safety.  

• A regulated health care professional (physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist or psychiatrist) diagnoses a psychological injury supported by medical evidence and follows the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). 

Some behaviours that may indicate workplace harassment: 

• Verbal aggression 

• Vandalizing personal belongings 

• Sabotaging work 

• Spreading gossip or rumors 

• Hazing or humiliating rituals 

• Threats or personal attacks about someone’s private life or personal characteristics 

• Inappropriate sexual conduct 

A traumatic event may be a result of witnessing or being the victim of a criminal act or a horrific incident. Traumatic events may have elements of actual or potential violence.  

The event(s) must arise out of and occur in the course of employment, and be: 

• Clearly and precisely identifiable, and 

• Objectively traumatic.  

Examples of traumatic event(s) include, but are not limited to: 

• Witnessing a fatality; 

• Being the victim of an armed robbery or hostage-taking; 

• Being subjected to physical violence; and 

• Being subjected to threats of physical violence, where there is reason to believe the threat is serious.