We have been working on a model that we believe offers a fairly accurate representation of what many injured workers are forced to endure in dysfunctional workers compensation systems. This model titled ‘Cycle of Despair’ is based on our survey results and many hours of of in-depth interviews with injured workers along with reviews of relevant mental health literature (Refer IWSN submission to the NSW Workers Compensation Inquiry in June 2012.)
Cycle of despair
The model consists of four major components that when taken together offer a bleak picture of mental health of seriously injured or ill workers trapped in dysfunctional workers compensation systems. Hence the reason the model is titled ‘Cycle of Despair’ since many workers become trapped in a never ending cycle of neglect and abuse that works against their ability to recover.
1. Coping with trauma. Injured workers are forced to cope with the impact of injury and illness on their life which is often accompanied by loss and grief associated with loss of previous functioning (physical and or/ psychological and social).
2. Trapped in adversarial system.They are then exposed to often sustained poor treatment by employers, insurers and the workers compensation in general.
3. Hopelessness and despair. Injury and /or illness are made worse and hope for a normal future often fades.
4. De-motivation. The ability to remain motivated and optimistic is reduced as the destructive cycle continues to be reinforced.
click to enlarge
View the Cycle of Despair in a separate popup window (PDF)
http://wp.me/p1MA9G-3aN
This pretty much sums up my experience on the sidelines in the poverty trap known as workers compensation. Being unfit for work & the isolation that goes with it is another contributing factor.
That’s right Will – the social isolation, financial hardship and in many cases relationship breakdowns all contribute to the downward spiral many injured workers experience. Central to this whole process is the psychological damage that is inflicted on injured workers by an adversarial system that keeps injured workers down and caught up in the never-ending ‘Cycle of Despair’.
We opted to focus on the subjective feelings of injured workers in this model because failures to address the very real loss and grief that injured workers experience is what leads to further hardships.
I know from speaking with many injured workers (although their circumstances vary in detail) the underlying emotional trauma is pretty much the same for everyone. This is what makes us human. Once people, especially politicians, understand that these are typical reactions to adverse circumstances they’ll understand why the system is so dysfunctional and damaging to injured workers and their families.
My hope is that new anti-bullying legislation will also help us to shine a light on just how hostile and uncaring the system is. Hence the reason for posting recent articles with titles such as: NSW Workers compensation scheme is still adversarial and bad for your health
http://www.injuredworkerssupport.org.au/?p=1585
hi john ; just looking at your article about ( CIRCLE OF DESPAIR) you have hit the nail on the head there !!!! . i know from my own personal mental state just how mentally damaging this sick system is . it is a neverending story you are trapped in a health and legal system that is desighned for one purpose only . to make money for everyone involved exept the injured workers our polaticians are evil ; they have no idea how hard it is to try live any sort of a normal healthy life while suffering the abuse of doctors and lawyers and government departments that are crafted to demote you to a nothing . they are so absorbed in their own welfare they don;t give a toss for working class people . its a pretty sick thing when you can;t even trust doctors to act honestly and with integrity . our legal and medical systems stink to high heaven. our social system is crumbling under the greed and domination of the wealthy over the poorer class workers . our politicians are a pathetic excuse for humanity . and getting worse by the day. there is not a doubt in my mind that i will suffer mental problems for the rest of my life over this horrendous workover system . the government don;t give a damm About our nation , all they see is a money game ,while they masterbate their ego;s . ( sicko;s)
It’s an excellent analysis of exactly what injured worker’s go through according to my own experience, and my perceived experience of friends going through the same trauma. Thanks John for your hard work on this. I’m more cynical about it however, as I don’t believe any of the big party politicians will fight for change. They are already snouts deep in their own troughs. I’ll make a post of a complaint I wrote to the Ombuds to ask them to investigate the Workcover system in 2009. Ignored, of course. Workover is but one vicious example of the whole exploitative system that we now live under.
Thank you John for a wonderful analysis.
Your wisdom and your “Never say die” attitude is a source of inspiration for all of us. You and aworkcovervictimsdiary – are probably more helpful to injured workers than any other resources available.
Thank you again and keep up the good work. Things will change for sure, in our favour.
Hi Pauline and Phil
Thank you so much for your feedback – I have a saying: the people who care most about injured workers are injured workers. It’s not until you’ve been in this terrible system that you realise how bad it really is. And it’s other injured workers who share the common experience. That’s why I and we (IWSN and Lisa) are so keen to reach out to injured workers. Ideally we can all unite and really make changes.
No blame for the employers, plenty of blame for the injured workers already struggling, in case nobody noticed, things are bloody harder even to do ordinary things, and you get all that shite thrown at you in a time you are least able to cope with it.
Break this system and throw it out with the other garbage. Its a licence to have an unsafe workplace and then blame the one who (through no fault of their own) ended up mamed.