Psychological Injury Example Claim Scenarios

These fictional scenarios show what’s likely to be covered—and what’s likely not—under Nova Scotia’s Workers’ Compensation Act and the psychological injury policy (PDF). They’re examples to help you understand how decisions are made across gradual onset psychological injury (GPI), traumatic psychological injury (TPI), and PTSD in first responders.

Key factors WCB considers

A claim is more likely to be covered when the following are true:

  • It’s work-related: The injury is caused completely or mostly by things that happen in the workplace.
  • There’s a clinical diagnosis: A registered psychologist or psychiatrist diagnoses the injury.
  • It is one of these types of psychological injuries:
    • Gradual Onset Psychological Iinjury: There’s significant, ongoing harmful behaviour at work—often bullying or harassment.
    • Traumatic Psychological Injury: There’s a sudden, traumatic workplace event involving a threat of serious harm.
    • Post Traumatic Stress Diagnosis in first responders: There is a PTSD diagnosis—for designated first responders, the law presumes it’s work-related unless there’s evidence to the contrary.

Important note

Every situation is unique. These scenarios suggest likely outcomes based on legislation and policy—they aren’t decisions. If you’re unsure how this applies to you, try our self-assessment tool or contact a client care navigator for guidance at 1-833-491-8889 or 902-491-8888.

Gradual onset psychological injury claim scenarios

Josie

 A worker sitting on a chair, looking at a computer on the desk, and taking notes.

Josie is an administrative assistant who works from home. Her ex has been repeatedly calling her work cellphone to insult, threaten, and berate her.

Josie called the police, and her ex has been charged with criminal harassment.

Diagnosis: Josie has been diagnosed with trauma disorder NOS (not otherwise specified).

Likely claim outcome: Probably not accepted. The injury is not work-related.

Rosie

 A worker is seated at a desk, looking at a computer.

Rosie is an administrative assistant who works from home. One of Rosie’s clients started calling her work cell phone repeatedly to insult, threaten, and berate her.

Rosie called the police, and the client has been charged with criminal harassment.

Diagnosis: Rosie has been diagnosed with acute stress disorder.

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted. The injury resulted from interacting with a client, which qualifies the situation as work-related.

Marlos

 Worker at a gas station refueling a car.

Marlos is a gas station attendant. He saw on the news that there’s been an increase in armed robberies, and it really scared him.

During his last shift, Marlos was robbed. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

Diagnosis: Marlos is diagnosed with panic disorder.

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted. Marlos was robbed at work.

Dawn

 A person with furrowed brows and a tense posture, expressing frustration and disappointment.

Dawn can’t stand one of her co-workers. Their desk is messy, they’re lazy, and Dawn has to carry their weight on team projects.

Everyone else is on Dawn’s side, but the supervisor refuses to fire the co-worker. Dawn is fed up.

Diagnosis: Dawn is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.

Likely claim outcome: Probably not accepted. Interpersonal conflict of this kind is not usually covered.

Shelly

 A machine operator working with industrial equipment.

Shelly is a machine operator. She’s been in a performance management program at work for being consistently late for work.

After arriving 15 minutes late again, Shelly’s boss screamed at her for an hour. He wouldn’t let her leave and was throwing things around his office.

Then he grabbed her arm and dragged her through the machine floor, packed up her locker, and threw her out in front of everyone. He shouted, “This is what happens when you’re a useless loser!”

Diagnosis: Shelly is diagnosed with depression.

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted. Shelly is being bullied.

Traumatic psychological injury (TPI) claim scenarios

Malik

Malik is a warehouse worker. While moving pallets, he witnessed a co-worker being crushed by a forklift. Since then, he has intrusive memories, avoids the loading bay, and startles at loud noises.

Diagnosis: Acute stress disorder.

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted. This followed a sudden, traumatic workplace event involving a threat of serious harm.

Chantal

Chantal is a bank teller. During a daytime robbery, the assailant pointed a handgun at her and demanded cash before fleeing. Since the incident, she has intrusive memories, nightmares, panic when serving unfamiliar customers, and is avoiding front-of-house duties.

Diagnosis: Acute stress disorder

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted. The symptoms started after a single, traumatic workplace incident involving a threat of serious harm.

Connor

Connor works in construction. After seeing news about a tower-crane collapse on a site in another city, he became anxious about working near cranes on his own site. No incident happened at Connor’s workplace, and he wasn’t involved.

Diagnosis: Adjustment disorder

Likely claim outcome: Probably not accepted. There was no direct traumatic event at work or exposure through his job duties.

Ava

Ava works in an office. A co-worker fell down a stairwell during work hours, suffering severe injuries; Quinn witnessed the incident and provided first aid until paramedics arrived.

Diagnosis: Acute stress disorder

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted. This was a single, sudden traumatic event at work with direct exposure to serious injury.

PTSD in first responders claim scenarios

For designated first responders (e.g., police officers, firefighters—paid or volunteer—paramedics, nurses, correctional officers, continuing care assistants, emergency response dispatchers, and sheriffs), a PTSD diagnosis by a registered psychologist or psychiatrist is presumed work-related, unless there is evidence that it clearly isn’t work-related.

Rami

Rami is a paramedic. He responded to a multi-vehicle collision during a snowstorm with serious injuries and a fatality. He now has nightmares, disrupted sleep, and panic when dispatched to similar calls.

Diagnosis: PTSD (confirmed by a psychiatrist)

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted (presumption applies). Designated first responder with a PTSD diagnosis linked to traumatic work events.

Siobhan

Siobhan is a police officer with 18 years on the job. She noticed less tolerance on routine calls, hypervigilance, and chronic sleep problems. After assessment, she received a diagnosis.

Diagnosis: PTSD (confirmed by a psychologist)

Likely claim outcome: Probably accepted (presumption applies). Designated first responder with a PTSD diagnosis.

Priya

Priya is an emergency department nurse. A person threatened her with a knife at triage. She now feels fear when similar-looking people approach or when someone shouts nearby.

Diagnosis: No PTSD diagnosis at this time

Likely claim outcome: Probably not accepted under the PTSD presumption (no PTSD diagnosis). Priya may still have a TPI claim if the event meets the traumatic-incident criteria and there’s a covered diagnosis.

Riley

Riley is a firefighter. Over the past year, Riley’s parent with Alzheimer’s disease has had repeated nighttime wandering and crises at home—police wellness checks, emergency room visits, and episodes of confusion and aggression. Riley developed nightmares, flashbacks, and avoidance that affected shifts, even though no traumatic events occurred at work.

Diagnosis: PTSD (from prolonged trauma at home)

Likely claim outcome: Probably not accepted. The traumatic exposure did not arise out of or in the course of employment.