"Mental health support needs to be in place all year round – it’s by no means something that can or should be addressed in January alone."
- Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson for GRiD
Group Risk Development (GRiD) has released figures showing that, over the past decade, mental health conditions have either been the first or second highest cause of claim by employees on Group Income Protection (GIP) policies. In 2023, 22% of GIP claims were for mental health - just 2% below that of cancer which was the most claimed condition that year.
Those with mental health-related issues benefitted most from early intervention support; in 2023, nearly half (47%) of those who were helped back to work via early interventions made by GIP providers suffered from poor mental health.
“Our data highlights that poor mental health has been, and continues to be, a significant issue for employees, but it’s also where pre-emptive strategies and timely interventions can have a profound effect,” explained Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson for GRiD.
She said: “Ensuring that workplace support is readily available, easily accessible, and fit for purpose will give employees the best possible chance of being a present and productive member of staff during, what can be, some depressing days and months of the year. Mental health support needs to be in place all year round – it’s by no means something that can or should be addressed in January alone.
“If nothing else, Blue Monday represents an annual reminder for organisations to ensure support for employees will meet their needs, whether it’s general assistance with mental health, or if employees develop a more serious mental health condition,” Katharine added.
In response to GRiD’s findings, Paula Coffey, Director of Claims, Rehabilitation, and Medical Services at Unum UK, said “Mental health concerns in workplaces are on the rise, accounting for 49% of our rehabilitation referrals in 2023 – up from 40% in 2013. Between 2022 and 2023, we also saw a 77% increase in mental health referrals amongst employees under the age of 25, suggesting shifting attitudes towards mental health.
“Blue Monday serves as an important reminder that a growing number of us are affected by poor mental health every year, and that the most powerful means of addressing these issues is often just to seek help. But conversations around mental health cannot be confined to one day a year.
“By increasing support and training for line managers so they can recognise early signs of distress, or placing a particular emphasis on early referrals for mental health, employers can prevent absences from the outset, whilst also supporting successful returns to work,” she concluded.
