More employees are applying for disability benefits due to severe mental health conditions like depression and PTSD, but they’re hitting a wall—approval rates for these claims remain stubbornly low compared to physical ailments. Data reveals a persistent gap in how the system treats invisible illnesses versus visible ones, leaving many workers without crucial support.

Editor’s Note: Mental health is just as debilitating as physical injuries, but outdated biases and murky evaluation standards mean people in crisis often can’t access the safety net they’ve paid into. This isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about whether we value mental health equally when it comes to survival. And right now, the system’s failing.