As you may have heard, this week the provincial government announced that it will make it easier for emergency dispatchers, nurses and publicly funded health-care assistants to access workers' compensation for mental-health disorders that come from work-related trauma.

Component 8 members in community health routinely serve as the first contact for people experiencing trauma. Yet until now, you have not been provided the same access to support for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental-health disorders through the Workers Compensation Act as other first responders such as police or paramedics.

BCGEU members have consistently spoken out about the need to extend better trauma support to all workers in frontline care and because of this good work, CHWs will no longer be left behind when it comes to workers' compensation.

Now, the claims process for publicly funded health-care assistants to access supports and compensation for PTSD and mental health disorders will proceed more quickly once a formal diagnosis has been made. For Component 8 members, this change applies to community health care workers registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry and employed in a publicly funded organization or setting.

Read more here: Eliminating barriers for emergency dispatchers, nurses, care aides

This announcement demonstrates a provincial government that is listening, and that recognizes the invaluable role you play in caring for some of B.C.'s most vulnerable people. Thank you for all you do.

In solidarity,

Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President
Scott De Long, Component 8 Vice President

UWU/MoveUP