Welcome to the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury

Injured Workers' Mental Health and Well-Being

Read a summary of research results:
The Nature and Impact of Stigma towards Injured Workers

Principal Investigator: Bonnie Kirsh and Sharon Dale Stone

Community Involvement: Injured workers (within the project and outside of the project) have shaped the broad research question and specific areas of investigation.

Project Abstract: This project focuses on injured workers' mental and emotional health, and in particular: experiences of stigma, and the needs, supports and services required by injured workers that promote physical and emotional health, and that foster participation in community and work life. Specific objectives include:

to understand how the health and well-being of injured workers is affected by processes of stigmatization in the workplace and in the community, with a focus on two areas: 1) social inclusion and community/work participation (BK); and 2) self esteem (SDS)
to understand the social, psychological and physical needs of injured workers
to identify services, supports and personnel that have the potential to meet these needs
to develop recommendations for health promotion and prevention of marginalization and negative health effects for injured workers Injured workers participate in focus groups in 2 sites: Toronto and Thunder Bay. Focus groups are followed by individual interviews with 20 participants (10 in each location) to further investigate the effects of stigma.

Project Bibliography:

Cacciacarro, L. & Kirsh, B. Understanding the mental health needs of injured workers. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2006; 73(3) 178-187.

Beardwood, B., Kirsh, B. & Clark, N. Victims twice over: The perceptions and experiences of injured workers. Qualitative Health Research. 2005; 15:30-48.

Kirsh, B. & McKee, P. The needs and experiences of injured workers in Ontario: A participatory research project. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation. 2003. 21: 221-231.