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ARTICLE · 18 DECEMBER 2012

Mental Illness At Work - New Diagnoses May Affect Employers

McCarthy Tétrault
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A recent piece in the Vancouver Sun highlights some concerns with new mental illness diagnoses that likely are coming to your workplace.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Earl Phillips
Earl Phillips
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A recent piece in the Vancouver Sun highlights some concerns with new mental illness diagnoses that likely are coming to your workplace.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is being revised. When DSM V comes out next May we will see new mental disorders and broadened definitions of existing disorders. It's important because the DSM is basically the "bible" of psychiatry and is relied on by the medical profession, insurers and regulators for identifying mental illness and for verifying specific diagnoses. For one example, the DSM is specifically referred to in BC's Workers Compensation Act and will be the guide for determining whether there is a mental disorder under the new Bill 14 bullying and harassment provisions. (See here for earlier posts on Bill 14.)

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