Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island

Psychological Injury Coverage


The WCB provides coverage for psychological injuries caused by work-related incidents, including psychological injuries caused by:
  • Traumatic events
  • Work-related harassment

Psychological Injuries from Traumatic Events

Like work-related incidents that cause physical injuries, exposure to work-related traumatic events can cause psychological injuries. For example:
  • A paramedic responding to serious accidents throughout their career.
  • A construction worker who witnesses a serious fall.
  • A security guard who was violently attacked during a recent shift.
While the signs of injury may not always be visible, each of these individuals has been exposed to a traumatic event and could be entitled to compensation for a work-related injury.

To be entitled to compensation, a worker must be diagnosed with a trauma or stressor related disorder by a psychologist or psychiatrist following work-related exposure to a traumatic event. Traumatic events are defined as actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.

If the above criteria are met, the WCB presumes that the diagnosed condition is work-related, unless proved otherwise.

Psychological Injuries Caused by Work-Related Harassment

Work-related harassment can take many forms, including verbal aggression, personal attacks, and other intimidating or humiliating behaviors.

To be entitled to compensation, it needs to be established that harassment did happen, that the harassment is related to work, that the work-related harassment caused a psychological injury and this psychological injury has been diagnosed by a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Below are some resources about psychological injuries caused by work-related harassment, sample scenarios of psychological injury claims that may or may not be accepted.

Benefits for Accepted Psychological Injuries

When a claim for psychological injury is accepted, the WCB may provide the following:
  • Health care benefits like medication, psychological or counselling assessments and services, etc.
  • Temporary wage loss benefits to reduce the financial impact of missing time from work without pay.
  • Expense reimbursement to make you can get to necessary treatment and services without incurring out of pocket expenses.
  • Programs and services to help you get back to work, and more.
While a decision is being made on your claim, we encourage to seek support from programs and services available to Islanders: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/mental-health-support-and-services

Psychological Care Process

The WCB has a Psychological Care Process in place to support timely diagnosis and treatment of work-related psychological injuries which includes access to a psychologist and a network of counsellors.

Filing Your Claim

It's important to remember that in all situations, a worker has six months to file a claim for compensation from the date of exposure to a traumatic event. The date of exposure is the date of the accident.

If exposure to traumatic events occurs over a period of time (cumulative exposure), the date of the incident is the earlier of:
  • The date a loss of earnings first occurs
  • The date the worker reports the injury as work-related to their employer, health care provider or the WCB.
Information about non-traumatic event psychological injuries can be found in POL-01 Psychological or Psychiatric Condition.

Click HERE to start filing your claim.