OP-ED: Not all work injuries are visible

October 10 was World Mental Health Day. For both of us, it is an opportunity to reinforce a message that every worker and employer needs to hear: mental health matters at work.

A paramedic may carry the weight of a difficult call long after a shift ends. A retail worker may face harassment from a customer week after week. A nurse may see too much, too often.

These experiences do not simply disappear when someone goes home. They can affect a person’s health, relationships, and ability to work.

Psychological injuries are every bit as real as a broken bone or a strained back. We believe they deserve to be taken just as seriously, and workers deserve the right care and support to recover.

In 2025, WCB recorded 174 psychological injury claims. About half involved first responders. The rest came from workers across a range of occupations. Some injuries resulted from a single traumatic event. Others developed over time through repeated exposure to significant workplace stressors.

At a time when the province is focused on protecting our future by building Nova Scotia through opportunities in defence, mining and critical minerals, and energy it is crucial that we ensure workers have the protections and supports they need.

We know that a healthy workforce means both physical and mental health are recognized and cared for.

Behind every claim is a person. A workplace injury that can affect their family, their colleagues and their future. No one should be expected to accept that as part of the job.

Through our work with workers and employers, we have seen how much attitudes toward mental health have changed. More people are speaking openly about psychological safety. More workplaces recognize the need to act. But stigma remains, and there is still more work to do.

Nova Scotia has taken important steps.

Until 2024, workers’ compensation covered only psychological injuries caused by a traumatic event at work. On Sept. 1, 2024, Nova Scotia became the first province in Atlantic Canada to also cover injuries that develop over time from causes such as bullying and harassment.

On Sept. 1, 2025, changes to Nova Scotia’s occupational health and safety laws took effect. Employers must now take reasonable precautions to protect workers from psychological injuries.

But coverage alone is not enough. Workers need to know where to turn, and they need help as early as possible.

WCB’s Client Care Navigators help workers understand their options and connect with mental health services, even before a claim is accepted. Early support can help workers address concerns before they become more serious. If a claim is accepted, a case worker works with the worker and employer to support recovery and a safe return to work.

Prevention must also come first.

Through Safer Workplaces Together, WCB and the province have made psychological injury prevention a priority. We are bringing employers and safety associations together to share what works and helping supervisors recognize concerns early.

Every provincially regulated employer must also have a written policy to prevent and respond to workplace harassment and ensure employees understand it. A policy should not simply sit on a shelf. Workers need to trust that concerns will be taken seriously and that someone will act.

We also know that a psychological injury does not have to end a career.

With time and the right support, people can recover and return to meaningful work. For many, reconnecting with colleagues, routine and purpose can become part of the healing process. Nearly 80 per cent of Nova Scotians who suffered work-related psychological injuries in 2025 have returned to work.

Building psychologically safer workplaces is a responsibility we all share.

Employers can make sure their harassment policies are understood and followed. They need to take concerns seriously and act on them.

Supervisors can build respectful workplaces, check in when someone is struggling, listen without judgment and address harmful behaviour.

Workers can learn their rights and where to turn for help. If work is affecting their mental health, they can speak to someone they trust, raise their concerns or contact WCB to understand their options.

These actions may seem simple, but they can make it easier for someone to speak up and get help.

Every Nova Scotian deserves to feel safe at work and go home healthy at the end of the day. No one should have to choose between their mental health and their livelihood.

We are committed to breaking down stigma, preventing harm and helping workers recover when injuries happen. That is how we build safer workplaces and a stronger Nova Scotia.

Nolan Young is Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration; Karen Adams is CEO of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.