Press release 10 May 2023.
- Mental Health Awareness Week 15 to 21 May
Commenting on this year’s theme, Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said:
“Anxiety can in itself be debilitating but one thing can also very quickly lead to another where anxiety is concerned. Serious conditions such as panic attacks, depression, substance misuse, insomnia, digestive/bowel problems, headaches, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, chronic pain, social isolation, and agoraphobia, can all stem from anxiety, which can detrimentally impact an individual’s ability to function well at work as well as their overall quality of life.
“When anxiety is suspected, it’s vital that support can be accessed quickly before it progresses. That is where employee benefits, such as group risk products (employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness) can help. They offer a variety of non-financial support that can be accessed even before an individual has taken time off work and before any claim is made, as well as providing financial assistance if the individual does indeed require a more sustained absence period.
“Employee Assistance Programmes, second medical opinions, access to counselling, and bereavement support are often embedded in to plans to help avert anxiety in the first place, to prevent absence when anxiety is severe, to reduce the length of absence, and help staff return to work when they are ready and able. Support is also available for the HR team and individuals managing an employee with anxiety.
“Employers need to lean in on all of this embedded support for anxiety as it is usually part and parcel of the policy and therefore comes at no additional cost.”
- Ends –
For further information please contact:
Sharon Mason
SMUK Marketing and PR
smason@smuk.org.uk
Mob: 07747 611773
Land: 01252 843350
Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson for GRiD
Katharine.moxham@grouprisk.org.uk
Mob: 07887 512508
Notes for editors
About GRiD
Group Risk Development (GRiD) is the industry body for the group risk sector, promoting the value to UK businesses of providing financial protection for their staff, enhancing their wellbeing and improving employee engagement. Our membership includes insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries and those operating in (or with other interests in) the UK group risk market. Together this forms a collective wealth of experience built over many years. Under the chairmanship of Paul White (head of technical, Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing) GRiD aims to promote group risk through a collective voice to Government, policymakers, stakeholders and employers.
GRiD works with government departments and regulators involved in legislation and regulation affecting group risk benefits, and with other organisations involved in the benefits and financial protection arenas. GRiD also seeks to enhance the industry’s standing by encouraging best practice and by participating in industry-wide initiatives such as the professional qualification in group risk managed jointly with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
GRiD’s media activity aims to generate a wider awareness and understanding of group risk products and their benefits for employers and employees.
GRiD’s dedicated spokesperson, Katharine Moxham, provides expert media comment on a full range of group risk issues.
Follow Katharine Moxham on Twitter @KMoxham
