Figures from Unum show more employees than ever are seeking support for mental health conditions, with this being the condition most people sought help with under its return to work scheme last year.
In total two-fifths of those using its rehabilitation services were for mental health issues, including stress and anxiety.
Unum’s data shows a significant increase in the number of employees seeking help with mental health conditions, with the biggest increase in referrals coming from male employed aged 30 or under.
In total men made up 57 per cent of all cases using its return to work support for mental health.
More than 7,000 people accessed Unum’s range of rehabilitation services in 2018. Its data also shows Unum paid over £42m to group income protection claimants suffering mental health conditions in 2018.
However, Unum has also found an increasing number of these employees – 74 per cent in 2018 rising from 70 per cent in 2017 – have been able to return to work after receiving this targeted support.
Unum says that poor mental health costs our economy as much as £99bn each year, and with as many as one in seven (15 per cent) people at work having symptoms of an existing mental health condition supporting mental wellbeing of the workforce should be a priority issue for employers.
Research from the Mental Health Foundation found that over two thirds of men said they had felt so stressed at some point over the past year, that they have felt overwhelmed or unable to cope, and a third had experienced suicidal thoughts.
Unum’s chief medical officer Dr Syed Zakir Abbas, Chief Medical says “Decreasing stigma around mental health problems and better understanding of the benefits of early support could be contributing to more employees using our services – particularly younger men – which is a positive development.
“Having access to early intervention resources for employees suffering mental ill-health can be key to supporting recovery. We developed our Mental Health Pathway last year to better support employers in maintaining mental health in the workplace and to provide access to specific intervention when an employee needs help.”
Unum chief executive Peter O’Donnell adds: “We believe employers have an important role to play in building healthy and inclusive work environments, where those with mental health concerns are fully supported.
“The emphasis Unum has placed on early intervention and identifying mental health issues in the workplace quickly is paying dividends, and our bespoke Mental Health Pathway is key to delivering this.”
In 2018 a total of 7,241 people used Unum’s rehabilitation services. This range of services is available to employers and employees with Group Income Protection and includes triage, treatment, vocational rehabilitation and return to work support, as well as training and advice for employers and employees.
Unum’s rehabilitation team provided return to work support to 1,670 ill or injured people – with 94 per cent agreeing an outcome with their employer and 75 per cent successfully returning to work – a figure that continues to rise year on year.
