In short:

The number of mental health-related claims to Queensland's workers' compensation insurer has more than doubled since 2021.

Unions and lawyers worry the state government may tighten eligibility criteria to offset the trend.

What's next?

An independent review into the scheme is set to be finalised in the second half of 2026.

Mental health claims to Queensland's state-owned workers' compensation insurer have more than doubled in the past five years.

Unions and lawyers are concerned the government may try to clamp down on eligibility to stifle the trend.

Data from WorkCover's annual report shows 4,110 mental injury claims were accepted in the last financial year marking a 108 per cent increase from 1,974 claims in 2021-2022.

Maurice Blackburn workers' compensation lawyer, Alison Barrett said the climbing figures are not just happening in Queensland, but nationally too.

"We're seeing these injuries frequently and importantly, they also can be very serious injuries,"she said.

Ms Barrett said mental injury claims can be for diagnoses like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders or psychological injuries as a result of a physical injury.

She said there's no one explanation for why they are on the rise but greater awareness may be one element.

"I think it is a very small part of it," she said.

"I think the bigger issue is that there are very real psychosocial hazards in our workplaces; we're seeing things like excessive workloads … occupational violence and aggression … bullying and harassment, exposure to more trauma in the workplace."

Former WorkCover deputy chair, now General Secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions, Jacqueline King, said it was no coincidence mental injury claims were rising, in line with reported assaults of frontline workers.

"Certainly, the rise in the psychological claims was being driven out of the public sector … [from] Queensland Health, Education Queensland, Queensland Police Service, Corrective Services, Youth Justice [and] Child Safety," Ms King said.

"Those frontline workers are being exposed to increasing amounts of violence, but also excessive workloads [and] trauma."

The annual report stated those who suffer from mental injuries are less likely to return to work, 71.4 per cent, when compared with those who are physically injured, 93.2 per cent.

Mental health claims also resulted in longer periods off work, 123 average annual paid days, compared with 47 days for those with physical injuries.

Mental injuries accounted for $334 million in payouts with an average claim cost of $25,138.

An independent review of the WorkCover scheme is currently underway, to ensure whether it remains fit for purpose.

Part of the review will look at the rise of mental injuries, and whether changes to the scheme are needed to ensure its sustainability.

But Ms Barrett fears this will lead to less people being able to access compensation for mental injuries.

"We're definitely concerned that the rising psychological injury claims could lead to a policy response that's focused on restricting access to compensation, rather than actually addressing why workers are becoming psychologically injured in the first place," she said.

It's a concern shared by Ms King.

"[These workers could be] forced into the welfare system or alternatively, if they're lucky enough, they can get access to insurance through their superannuation," Ms King said.

"So, it's just deferring the cost to somewhere else."

Both Ms Barrett and Ms King have called on the government to focus its efforts on treating the cause of psychological injuries, not the symptom.

"The better response is to prevent the injuries, improve workplace safety, provide earlier support rather than taking a knife to compensation entitlements, which we've seen in other states in Australia," Ms Barrett said.

A spokesperson for the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) said in a statement, "Reducing risks of psychological injuries is just as important as physical ones, and employers have a range of responsibilities as well as resources to support workers."

On the OIR's website, it stated the review is expected to be finalised in the second half of 2026.