Assuming the new UK government’s plans on workers rights come to fruition next year, it may be wise for insurance brands to offer all kinds of wellbeing and mental health support in place, to avoid costly tribunals further down the road. It’s also pretty much essential if you have remote teams who are working in isolation at home for 3-4 days per week.
Here’s the word on a new partnership which streamlines several support services;
Simplyhealth, the leading Health Plan provider, has teamed up with Spectrum.Life to offer its customers their new Digital Mental Health service to address the current mental health crisis facing the nation. All Simplyhealth customers will have access as part of their Health Plan.
Spectrum.Life’s offering includes a fully digital mental health support experience where members can assess their mental health need, select the counsellor they want to see, and access brief intervention counselling or short-term counselling as appropriate. Users receive personalised, clinician-matched support, allowing them to choose a counsellor based on personal preferences such as availability, gender, age and expertise. Users can book appointments directly through the platform and manage schedules.
For members who want immediate support they can access 24/7 brief intervention counselling without delays. By focusing on continuous mental health support, the service encourages early engagement to prevent issues from escalating, reducing absenteeism and boosting workplace performance. The platform ensures the highest standards of confidentiality and clinical governance, safeguarding privacy and maintaining strict clinical oversight in every interaction.
The innovative Digital Mental Health solution uses a network of 2350+ fully accredited, highly qualified Counsellors and Psychotherapists. It will be accessible to Simplyhealth’s 2.5 million customers, including thousands of businesses which can use the solution to help them support their staff’s mental health, one of the leading causes of sickness absence.
This collaboration represents a pivotal advancement in expanding access to mental healthcare across the UK. With nearly 1 in 4 UK workers impacted by stress, anxiety, or depression – resulting in decreased productivity, absenteeism, and burnout – Simplyhealth is on a mission to help reverse the workforce sickness epidemic and support working Brits back to health.
Research from Simplyhealth showed that a fifth of employees (21%) took time off for mental health problems in the past year1, with an average of 5.8 days for the condition, making it the most common reason for sick leave.
Employers are noticing this too, with a third (33%) reporting rising mental health days as one of the biggest problems their business is facing, with over 2.8 million people off work on long-term sick and economically inactive according to the Office of National Statistics. The positive news is employers want to tackle this, with the vast majority of employers (79%) agreeing it is their responsibility to support mental health beyond the workplace.
NHS waiting lists currently have a target of 18 weeks to see a patient, leaving many waiting for months without support. Simplyhealth and Spectrum.Life’s new Digital Mental Health Solution has been designed to respond to a surge in demand from users looking for quick access to mental health support, 24/7, on digital channels that fit in with their lives.
Within a year period, Spectrum.Life saw video counselling consultations increase by over 55%, 2 WhatsApp usage surge by 36.38%,3 and live chat contacts rise by 24.5%4
Users can use platforms like WhatsApp for low-level queries, streamlining the process when they begin their appointments with clinicians. Digital options like video also enhance accessibility for those uncomfortable with in-person visits, constrained by geographical barriers or who prefer the convenience afforded by video consultations.
Getting early access to mental health support via these digital methods can prevent conditions from worsening and reduce the need for more intensive treatments in the future.
Simplyhealth’s Director of Product, Tina Kennedy, said: “When someone needs support with their mental health, it simply isn’t good for their health for them to wait months to be seen. We are passionate about reducing barriers for our members looking to make that critical first step in accessing care, and we believe that digital-first healthcare solutions – that allow quick access and fit in with their lives – will provide this for our millions of customers.
We are impressed by Spectrum.Life’s Digital Mental Health solution; whose high quality of clinical care, combined with its innovative technology, allows greater access via multiple platforms. By joining forces, we are working towards our purpose of improving access to healthcare for all, and also supporting businesses to keep their staff healthy and in work, reducing the current workforce sickness epidemic facing the nation.”
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