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The recent Make it Right Campaign held by the National Accident Helpline has revealed 35% of people suffer from stress after an injury. This is unsurprising when you consider a personal injury can impact everything from finances to mental health.
Here, we’ll look at exactly what the campaign found and how you can protect your mental health if you have suffered a personal injury.
What did the recent campaign reveal?
The Make it Right campaign was carried out in 2019 and it consisted of two different stages. The first stage included a 15-minute interview with 1,021 people who had suffered an accident that had resulted in significant personal injury.
The second stage involved a more intensive interview with healthcare professionals. The results of these interviews provided a better understanding of how a personal injury impacts a patient’s life and what can be done to help.
The campaign revealed the following:
- It impacts self-confidence
- Increased stress levels
- Disruption to daily routines
- Detrimental impact on relationships
- Impact on work
A staggering 62% of those who had suffered a personal injury stated that it had impacted their confidence. It was also shown to increase stress levels in 35% of those interviewed.
Unsurprisingly, it was also revealed that 60% also experienced a disruption to their daily routine. Many also stated it took longer to recover than anticipated. Around 47% of those in a relationship when they had their injury claim it has impacted their relationship. Meanwhile, 60% also admitted it had impacted their ability to carry out their job.
The results of the campaign highlight just how much a personal injury can impact a patient’s life.
How does a personal injury contribute to stress?
A personal injury can contribute towards higher stress levels in a number of ways.
The act of making a claim for the injury suffered can be stressful within itself. There has been research conducted into the stressfulness of making a claim. A study conducted in 2014, revealed that 33.9% of claimants experienced enhanced stress due to not fully understanding what they needed to do to make a claim. Other factors associated with making a claim that impact stress levels include claim delays and the number of medical assessments required.
Besides the claim itself, other factors link to higher stress levels such as financial strain and relationship troubles. If pain is experienced alongside the injury, this can also impact sleep, which in turn contributes to increased stress.
Top ways to look after your mental health
If you are experiencing high levels of stress after a personal injury by an accident that wasn’t your fault, it is imperative to try and combat the issue. When left untreated, high levels of stress can contribute to a number of health problems, both physical and mental.
If you’re worried about your finances, use an online claims calculator to help get a general idea of how much compensation you could claim. You can also seek advice from a reliable and trusted personal injury lawyer.
Making sure you spend time relaxing and taking care of your mental health is also important. This includes exercising where you can, eating healthy and getting out into nature.
Suffering an accident that wasn’t your fault is stressful enough. However, if it has left you with a personal injury, it can significantly disrupt your life. Don’t be afraid of seeking the compensation you deserve and focus on ways to minimise your stress levels.