Wellbeing | Mental health: How to improve prevention on a global basis

By Tracey Ward, Head of Business Development & Marketing at Generali UK Employee Benefits

On a global scale, under 40-year-olds are more likely to report poor mental health and lower productivity thanks to mental distraction.

They’re also more likely to make a Private Medical Insurance (PMI) claim for mental health, in countries where such cover is available. On the one hand, this could indicate high awareness and low stigma across younger ages. But, on the other hand, it could indicate that individuals are still waiting for a crisis to happen before reaching out for help.

“The deteriorating mental health of those under the age of 40 is caused by a range of factors, including social challenges, such as a feeling of isolation due to a lack of connection and acceptance from friends and co-workers,” says Louise O’Neill, Senior Customer Success Manager at TELUS Health; Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) partner to Generali UK. “In this cohort, we see a culture in which help is only sought at a crisis point. Consequently, mental health support is very much viewed as more curative than preventative, which should not be the case.