Category: Health benefits · Reviewed by Al Jabbar, Broker · Specialist Risks · Last reviewed 2026-06-10
Mental health support employee benefits encompass a range of services and policies designed to prevent, identify and address mental illness in the workforce. The category includes employee assistance programmes, group PMI mental health cover, digital therapy and self-help apps, mental health first aiders, manager training, structured wellbeing content and policies on workload, flexibility and absence. The market has expanded rapidly since 2020 following the Covid-19 pandemic and the publication of the Stevenson/Farmer “Thriving at Work” review.
Category: Health benefits Also known as: Mental health benefit, workplace mental health Key reference: Stevenson/Farmer Thriving at Work (2017) Related concepts: Employee assistance programme, Wellbeing benefit, Mental health absence
Mental health support is more a category than a single product. A modern employer’s mental health offering typically combines (i) reactive services (EAP, PMI mental health cover, GIP rehabilitation); (ii) proactive support (digital apps, training, wellbeing platform); and (iii) policy and environment (workload management, flexibility, manager training, anti-bullying processes).
Mental health support intersects with statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010 (where mental illness amounts to a disability), the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (employer’s general duty to ensure health, safety and welfare of employees), and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (stress risk assessment). The HSE has issued Management Standards for work-related stress; large employers are expected to consider these standards in their workplace stress management.
A modern offering combines EAP (£8–£20 per employee per year), group PMI mental health cover (where available, with a defined outpatient limit and a list of providers), digital therapy app (such as Unmind or Headspace for Work; £20–£50 per employee per year), mental health first aiders, manager training, and routine wellbeing communications.
An employer reviewing its mental health offering decides to maintain its EAP and PMI cover, add a workplace digital therapy app, train 10 mental health first aiders (one per 20 employees), provide manager training on identifying and supporting employees with mental health difficulties, and integrate mental health into its stress risk assessment process. Total incremental cost: approximately £35 per employee per year.
This entry is part of the Apex Insurance Wiki. Last reviewed by Matt Bartlett on 2026-06-10. Next review: 2026-12-10.
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