Mental Wellness Becomes Core Part of Employee Wellness Programs: Report, ET HealthWorld

New Delhi: Mental health has become a core part of employee well-being programmes with 74 per cent employers including mental health services as part of insurance packages offered to their employees, a report said. Companies are expanding outpatient care and counselling services to support both physical and mental well-being, boosting productivity, Prudent Insurance Brokers said in its report covering 3,100 organisations across sectors.

The report found that competitive employee packages are a key factor in attracting top talent, with 75% of employees preferring companies that offer comprehensive benefits such as healthcare, wellness and flexible options.

The report highlighted that companies have rapidly shifted towards outpatient services (OPD) and preventive healthcare, with interest in them increasing by 30-40 percent.

Sectors like banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, energy and engineering are said to be emphasising on preventive screening, annual check-ups and mental health support.

The median sum insured of Rs 10,000 is considered the most preferred type of insurance, while the next most popular OPD offer in the market is the sum insured of Rs 15,000, it added.

As noted, there is also a growing demand for pet care services, especially in the IT/ITES and e-commerce sectors, which are targeted at younger workers and pet owners.

According to Pavanjit Singh Dhingra, managing director of Prudent Insurance Brokers, personalisation will become stronger in the next 5-10 years.

As the workforce continues to grow across generations, the need to offer personalized and relevant benefits will increase, and wellness partners and aggregators will need to be more agile and adapt to changing needs, he added.

Published on September 14, 2024 at 10:12 AM IST

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