Regional employees are disproportionately affected by workplace mental health challenges compared with metropolitan people, with impacts including longer recovery periods after claims, Allianz Australia research shows.

In regional Australia, the proportion of mental injury workers’ compensation claims in Allianz’s overall portfolio stands at 19%, compared with 13.4% in metro areas.

Over the past five years, regional workers took an average of 88 days to return to work, against 72 days in cities.

“These trends point to a widening workplace mental health gap that demands our attention, particularly as a growing number of regional employees are considering walking away from their jobs altogether,” said Brianna Cattanach, Allianz national manager for mental health strategy – personal injury.

The average cost of a mental injury claim has increased 25% in regional areas over the past five financial years, compared with 5% in metro areas.

Nearly one-third of surveyed regional workers – about 703,000 people – say they are likely to consider leaving their jobs in the next six to 12 months.

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About 24% say their mental health is the worst they have known in their working life, with issues including financial situation, quality of relationships and sense of connection, plus workload, work pace and deadlines.

Workplace stress, bullying or harassment and violence are the biggest mental injury drivers.

Nearly one in five say no workplace mental health support is available, almost two-thirds do not know how to access support through their workplace, and about one-third are uncomfortable requesting time off due to mental health or discussing external stressors with their managers.

Allianz personal injury EGM Mark Pittman says regional employees’ claims experience shows recovery is often complex.

“Longer periods away from work suggest there may be barriers beyond the injury itself,” he said. “Access to services, workforce capacity and local support networks can all influence how quickly someone is able to recover and return to work.”

Rural Aid mental health and wellbeing manager Myf Pitcher says regional workers can face practical and cultural barriers to seeking support.

“Long distances, limited services and demanding work schedules can all stand in the way,” she said.

“We need support that is connected to local communities, easy to access and designed around the realities of life and work in the bush.”