Vitality has reported a 179 per cent increase in member use of talking therapies since 2019 and a corresponding 69 per cent decrease in those needing in-patient treatment for mental health conditions.
This significant shift was been reported ahead of the release of its 2024 Health Claims and Insights Report.
Vitality said its claims data also showed a positive correlation regarding the impact of interventions such as talking therapies have on the development of more serious mental health conditions that may require hospitalisation.
As bodies like the ABI report a 140 per cent increase in mental health appointments across the market, this new data from Vitality is the first from the insurance industry to demonstrate that earlier access to talking therapies can reduce onward in-patient appointments.
Research from Vitality earlier this year found that employees at risk of depression lose 151 per cent more productive days than those not at risk. Given this it says it is critical that insurers and employers take action to prioritise access to high-quality and easily accessible mental health support.
Vitality Health managing director Keith Klintworth, says: “Vitality has long believed in the importance of prevention and early intervention to improve our members physical and mental health, and to reduce the long-term burden of ill-health on insurers and the NHS.
“This is just as true for our mental health as for physical health, and this data highlights the powerful role that talking therapy services can have in delivering faster access to care, which has a positive knock-on impact in reducing the need for more intensive in-patient care.”