Mental health practitioner claims more than
doubled between 2019 and 2023
TORONTO, April 30,
2024 /CNW/ - Canada
has been grappling with a mental health crisis for years, but new
data from Sun Life shows people are seeking the help they need.
Between 2019 and 2022, the number of Sun Life Group Benefits' plan
members making mental health practitioner claims grew by almost
70%. The volume of claims for mental health practitioners also
continues to rise, growing 20% in 2023, and having more than
doubled since 2019.
Trends were identified using data from Sun Life's Designed for
Health report. The report highlights trends on paramedical and drug
claims from over 3 million Canadians:
- Mental health practitioner claims for those between the ages of
30-39 saw the largest increase in both growth and claim
volume.
- Women's mental health practitioner claims grew more than 37%
compared to men's claims.
- Mental health is the leading cause of disability, making up 40%
of long-term disability claims for women versus 30% for men.
- Depression drugs are now the highest volume claiming category
for those under the age of 60, increasing 40% since 2019. That
number has doubled for those under the age of 30.
"Over the last few years, the conversation around mental health
has been front and centre. While there is still work to do to break
the stigma, the data shows encouraging trends. Canadians are more
open to talking about their mental health – they're reaching out to
professionals and seeking the help they need," said Dr.
Valerie Legendre, Clinical
Psychologist and Director, Mental Health at Sun Life. "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."
Workplaces have a role to play
supporting mental health
As more Canadians seek mental health support, improving access
to care has never been more important. Workplace benefits plans are
helping to fill the gap by increasing access and affordability.
Many workplaces are extending the list of covered mental health
practitioners to increase access and options for mental health
treatment. Additionally, workplaces are increasing mental health
coverage and adding innovative tools to support their employees.
Lumino Health Virtual Care powered by Dialogue and Mental Health
Coach provided by CloudMD are two examples of innovative tools in
the market. The Mental Health Strategy Toolkit for employers is
also a great free resource to help organizations build a strong and
resilient framework to support employee mental health.
Improving access to care can lower disability claims, helping
people improve their health and return to work. Companies that
focus on the health of their employees, see both their people and
businesses thrive.
"Empowering employees to take charge of their mental health is
critical. 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," said Marie-Chantal Côté, Senior
Vice-President, Group Benefits, Sun Life. "We hear firsthand from
employers the positive impact access to mental health support has
on their workplace, and most importantly on their employees."
Helping Clients live healthier lives is central to Sun Life's
Purpose and being a sustainable company. Through innovative health
solutions, Sun Life is maximizing its positive impact helping
millions of Clients and Canadians with their physical and mental
health.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services
organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and
health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life
has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including
Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong
Kong, the Philippines,
Japan, Indonesia, India, China,
Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December
31, 2023, Sun Life had total assets under management of
$1.40 trillion. For more information,
please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New
York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the
ticker symbol SLF.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
Media Relations Contact:
Carolyn Rae
Senior Communications Specialist
Corporate Communications
T. 416-565-7307
carolyn.rae@sunlife.com
SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada