Bupa has opened a flagship mental health centre in London as part of plans to expand workplace mental health support and improve employee wellbeing.
The new centre at Broadgate Central is one of 20 Bupa Mindplace locations now open across the UK, with the provider aiming to open 70 centres by 2027.
The centre, which will initially be available to Bupa business and UK insurance customers, will offer face-to-face support, including counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, and cognitive behavioural therapy, and will have the capacity to treat more than 400 patients a week.
The launch comes as demand for workplace mental health support continues to rise. Bupa said mental health claims among younger workers have doubled since 2019, while businesses lose around 448,000 workdays annually to mental ill-health.
According to Bupa’s Healthy Workforce, Healthy Economy research, reducing the impact of mental health issues through private medical provision could generate a £360m economic boost for the UK, including £58.6m in savings for London employers through lower absenteeism and presenteeism.
Bupa general manager for health services Sarah Melia says: “There is an increasing need for mental health support across the UK and fast access to services has never been more important; early interventions improve outcomes.
“We know people want face to face access to mental health professionals so we’re pleased to be investing in Mindplace Broadgate, our flagship centre and first to open in the capital, as well as 70 centres across the UK by 2027. Providing these crucial mental health services supports businesses to keep people well and in work.”