Waltham, MA, September 29, 2026 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines mental health claims in workers’ compensation from 2015 to 2024, providing new evidence on the characteristics, treatment, costs, and disability outcomes associated with these claims.

“Mental health claims are receiving increasing attention, but questions remain about their frequency, treatment patterns, and resulting costs and disability outcomes. This study provides new evidence to address these gaps,” said Ramona Tanabe, president and CEO of WCRI.

The study explores several questions, including:

  • Who is more likely to have a mental health claim: women or men, and lower- or higher-wage workers?
  • Which states and industries have higher rates of mental health claims?
  • Are mental health claims more common among newer or more experienced workers?
  • What do mental health claims cost, and what care do workers receive?

The study, Mental Health Claims in Workers’ Compensation: A Multistate Analysis, focuses on claims in which the primary diagnosis was a mental health condition, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorders, other stress reactions, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders. It does not include claims in which a physical injury was the primary diagnosis and a mental or behavioral health condition developed or was treated afterward.

The report was authored by Vennela Thumula, Sebastian Negrusa, Te-Chun Liu, and Randall D. Lea. It is free for WCRI members and available to nonmembers for a fee. Click here for more information.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Waltham, Massachusetts. WCRI provides objective, high-quality research to help policymakers and other stakeholders make informed decisions about state workers’ compensation systems. Its diverse membership includes employers, insurers, government agencies, managed care companies, health care providers, insurance regulators, labor organizations, and state administrative agencies.