Almost 1 in 3 Help@hand appointments are mental health-related

3 Apr 2023

Latest data from leading employee benefits provider Unum UK shows 30% of appointments booked via the health and wellbeing app, Help@hand, are related to mental health. The news comes in the wake of the Government’s Spring Budget commitment to spend £400 million on improving mental health and musculoskeletal support for workers.

With 1 in 6 UK adults experiencing ‘moderate to severe’ depressive symptoms in 2022, up from 1 in 10 pre-pandemic¹, Unum has confirmed that mental health appointments booked via Help@hand has exceeded 1,000 bookings per month in 2023 for the first time in its history.

Unum UK will offer unlimited mental health consultations⁺ via Help@hand, with immediate effect, to employees (and eligible family members) insured by one of its Group Risk products to increase focus on addressing mental health problems in the UK.

Other Help@hand enhancements going live today include nutritional consultations*, personal training programmes* and lifestyle coaching, all personalised to meet individuals’ goals and drive outcomes.

Of the 2,097 mental health consultations booked in January and February 2023 via Help@hand, 55% were for women, with 26–35-year-olds accounting for more than 42% of all appointments.

Anxiety accounts for 33% of all mental health appointments, with depression 29% and stress 13% the other leading symptoms. Fortunately, 96% of people who utilised mental health support via Help@hand confirmed their consultant dealt with their concerns on the day.

Glenn Thompson, Chief Distribution Officer, Unum UK, commented:

“The Government’s £400 million pledge to support mental health in the workplace is welcome news. Mental health concerns continue to rise, which is one of the reasons why we’ve transformed our Help@hand app with immediate effect to provide key enhancements to support employees and their families make meaningful changes to enhance their wellbeing. This includes access to quality services that really make a difference towards achieving positive outcomes — not just unlimited mental health support, but also dedicated bereavement counselling with a specialised therapist, previously only available to our Group Life customers.”

Learn more

¹^{ONS: Cost of living and depression in adults, Great Britain: 29 September to 23 October 2022}
^{+ For mild to moderate issues. Number of sessions subject to clinical appropriateness. Should the service be no longer suitable, users will be directed to alternative appropriate support}
^{* Group Income Protection customers only}

^{Help@hand is provided to Unum Group customers by Square Health. It offers access to services designed to manage the health and wellbeing of employees and their families. Help@hand is entirely separate from any Unum insurance policy. Help@hand is not part of the insurance contract, is provided by Unum for no additional cost to its customers, and Unum can withdraw or change the service in the future. Help@hand is available to UK residents only. Unum offers access to the Help@hand services provided by third parties.}

^{Square Health Limited, registered in England and Wales Number 07054181. Crown House, William Street, Windsor SL4 1AT.}