A combination therapy plan proved the ideal solution for this government employee.

Employees can be exposed to mental health trauma in their job. When helping members of the public who are experiencing their traumas, employees can suffer in turn. Within our pilot project called the Recovery Model Office (RMO), thinking outside the box about how to support their recovery has brought exciting results. The following story illustrates how alternative modalities can add complimentary benefits to traditional psychological treatment plans. These stories are helping to pave the way for the launch of our Recovery Hub in 2023.

On May 28, 2019, a government worker was exposed to distressing graphic material by a member of the public in the course of performing job duties. The worker was diagnosed with depressive mood and anxiety disorder. The claim, considered complex, was assigned a risk score of 0.8.

The worker’s general practitioner suggested that the worker undergo treatment with a psychologist who also practices as a yoga teacher. The employee wished to pursue this course of treatment. Research has long shown that yoga can enhance psychological treatment programs, and several psychologists have undergone training in yoga and integrated it into their work.

Yoga has the potential to help patients recover from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions when used by a skilled therapist. Altering brain chemistry can significantly improve mood and even boost cognition. Some recent evidence suggests that yoga could have even more substantial psychological benefits for many patients than pharmacological approaches. However, each case is different and must be guided by a trained psychologist or psychiatrist.

By incorporating yoga techniques into a treatment plan, the therapist chosen for this employee helps patients cope with stress and improve psychological wellbeing. The GP viewed this as promising therapy and recommended that the worker embark on the course without delay. Yoga sessions were approved on December 14, 2019, and they would begin on January 14, 2020. 

The worker learned stress and relaxation techniques from the referred psychologist. In this treatment plan, hour-long sessions cost $85 each and took place once a week. Sessions were held from January 14 to March 4, 2020, at a total cost of $850. The intended outcome was to allow the worker to participate in return-to-work planning and triumphantly return to work.

On December 19, an unrelated injury occurred, slightly delaying my return to work. The worker suffered an ankle fracture off the job, which required surgery and the use of a Moon Boot. 

The worker did engage in RTW planning discussions, and on February 24, 2020, they achieved a partial return to work. Initially, this meant working two days a week for four hours. During these shifts, the worker handled non-operational duties, which meant minimal exposure to incidents that could provoke further mental health injury. The worker then worked three days per week for six hours per day, still handling non-operational duties. 

“I’ve found the yoga to be positive in relaxing my anxiety and increasing my mindfulness. I would recommend [it] to anyone who is struggling with PTSD,” said the worker. The psychologist encouraged the employee to continue practising the techniques learned in the sessions, which would support a complete return to work over the coming months.

For this government agency and worker, psychological treatments that included yoga proved an extremely worthwhile investment. The worker gained improved mental and emotional wellbeing, while the company got to welcome back a valued employee with minimal disruption. It was a clear win-win for them both.

If you’re interested in learning more about GB's Government Services, reach out to Emma Hosking.

Emma commenced her career with ReturnToWork South Australia in 1993. Emma joined Gallagher Bassett in 2013 as GB’s Scheme Account Manager, South Australia, helping to lead GB’s successful South Australian start-up. Since then, Emma has been involved in many large government transition projects, including leading the development of GB’s award-winning Northern Territory operation and helping establish GB’s government operations for Comcare, Norfolk Island, icare NSW, and the Tasmanian DPFEM. Emma was a keynote speaker at the 2021 PIEF Conference, where she shared her experience and examined the importance of personalisation in contemporary government insurance schemes.