California law allows for workers to collect benefits for psychiatric injuries incurred at the workplace. However, proof of such injury must come from an occupational physician. Typically, a physician oversees the recovery process and determines when an injured worker can return to work. Psychiatric injuries work the same way. A physician overseeing the worker’s care must submit information that pertains to health history, treatment, official diagnoses, and more.
Though receiving benefits for psychiatric conditions is possible, it could prove to be more difficult than physical claims. A stigma surrounding mental illness still exists throughout the country, so it could be more difficult to vigorously defend such claims and collect workers' compensation benefits from conditions that worsen or arise from terms of employment. Often, for psychiatric claims, it helps to have an employment attorney help with the filing process, as insurers are more likely to take the claim seriously.