Jacqueline Kerwood , Head of Claims Strategy and Governance , Aviva Protection

In 2023 , mental health was one of the leading causes behind the income protection claims Aviva paid . It made up 23.9 % of all claims .¹

By the end of December , a total of 1.87 million people in the UK had sought assistance from mental health services in 2023 .²

Numbers like these confirm that mental health really matters . It ’ s a crucial aspect of our overall health , encompassing our emotional , psychological and social wellbeing ; mental health affects how we think , feel and act .

Mental health disorders are common and can affect anyone , regardless of age , gender or background . They come in various forms , such as anxiety disorders , depression , bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ). Each disorder has its own set of symptoms and challenges , and they can signiffcantly impact a person ’ s daily life .

Supporting the person behind every claim Helping to protect the income of people who are prevented from working due to mental health issues is a vital part of what Aviva do . But it goes beyond financial support to provide a broad spectrum of mental health services , all part and parcel of the policies it offers . The scale of the claims Aviva supported shows just how much impact mental health has on the people they protect .

In addition to providing income protection , Aviva saw a 53 % increase in new mental health rehabilitation cases in 2023 , compared to 2022 . And the support it offered made a real difference :

81 % OF ALL PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED AVIVA ’ S MENTAL HEALTH REHABILITATION SUPPORT IN 2023 SUCCESSFULLY RETURNED TO WORK .¹

Early intervention and rehabilitation support services are non-contractual benefits that Aviva can change or remove at any time .

Cancer and mental health : partnering with Macmillan Cancer Support One of Aviva ’ s partners , the leading cancer support charity Macmillan , has seen a worrying rise in people with cancer contacting its support line with financial concerns , coupled with signiffcant mental health issues . As of mid-November 2023 , the number of these callers had increased by 33 % in 2023 compared to 2022 .³

Where a customer needs to take extended time off work due to mental health concerns , Aviva stand ready to offer financial support with income protection . But again , it goes beyond this . Aviva ’ s support streamlines the referral process , as well as offering case-specific rehabilitation and effcient claims assessments .

Fast mental health consultations The Aviva DigiCare + and Aviva DigiCare + Workplace apps , provided by Square Health , offer 30-minute mental health consultations . This enables employees and customers to talk to a mental health therapist . Sometimes , one single session is all they need . In 2023 , 10,743 mental health consultations were booked through the apps . And within this number , 100 % were available within 48 hours of booking the consultation . ⁴

The Aviva DigiCare + and Aviva DigiCare + Workplace apps are non-contractual benefits Aviva can change or withdraw at any time . Terms and conditions and the privacy policy can be read within the apps , residency restrictions apply .

By making it their business to help ease the challenges faced by people navigating mental health issues , Aviva established a set of mental health support and resources to help safeguard the mental wellbeing of employees and individual customers alike . This is how Aviva ’ s support goes beyond numbers , to support the person behind every claim .

Find out more in Aviva ’ s 2024 Individual protection claims and wellbeing insights report .

¹ Aviva ’ s 2024 Individual protection claims and wellbeing insights report . ² ‘ Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics , Performance December 2023 ’. NHS Digital , 8 Feb 2024 . Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 . ³ Charity sees a rise in crisis calls as tens of thousands of cancer patients ‘ struggle to survive due to devastating financial hardship ’, published 12 December 2023 , by Media & PR at Macmillan , Macmillan press releases and statements , Medium . ⁴ Square Health , January to December 2023 .

For adviser use only . Not for use with customers . Provided by Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited . PT151413 07 / 2024

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