Sun Life says mental health practitioner claims surged nearly 70% percent

Sun Life says mental health practitioner claims surged nearly 70% percent | Insurance Business Canada

Life & Health

Sun Life says mental health practitioner claims surged nearly 70% percent

Expert notes “encouraging trends”

Life & Health

By
Terry Gangcuangco

Statistics from Sun Life suggest a positive shift in seeking necessary mental health support among Canadians.

According to the insurer, from 2019 to 2022, the number of members making mental health practitioner claims under their group benefits plan surged nearly 70%, with claims volume also seeing sustained growth in 2023.

Based on insights from Sun Life’s “Designed for Health” report, which analyzed paramedical and drug claims of over 3 million Canadians, some trends that emerged include a notable increase in mental health practitioner claims among individuals aged 30 to 39.

Mental health practitioner claims among women, meanwhile, rose by over 37% compared to those from men.

“Over the last few years, the conversation around mental health has been front and centre,” said Dr Valerie Legendre, clinical psychologist and director for mental health at Sun Life. “While there is still work to do to break the stigma, the data shows encouraging trends.

“Managing mental health issues can be complex. Accessing support early is critical. Early intervention can help lead to quicker recoveries and positive long-term outcomes.”

For Marie-Chantal Côté, senior vice president for group benefits at Sun Life, it’s also critical to empower employees to take charge of their mental health.

“Workplaces have an important role to play, not only when it comes to offering mental health resources, but in creating safe and inclusive work environments,” she said.

“We hear firsthand from employers the positive impact access to mental health support has on their workplace, and most importantly on their employees.”

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