Melbourne, 27 November 2024 – AIA Australia has announced its latest offering to address the urgent need for more timely and affordable mental health support in Australia. The leading life, health and wellbeing insurer will offer My Psychologist, a virtual mental health support service, to its life insurance customers and their immediate family members.
The offering is facilitated by Online Psychologists Australia and will provide virtual consultations with qualified psychologists. The service will also assist with referrals for a Mental Health Care Plan by connecting members to a telehealth GP, if needed.
For several years, mental ill-health has been the main reason that Australians visit their General Practitioner[1], however their ability to access a psychologist is hindered due to extensive wait times and the associated costs. My Psychologist has been developed to address these issues, aiming to provide users with an appointment with a psychologist within seven days for a reduced out-of-pocket fee of $60 through Medicare, for those with a Mental Health Care Plan.
One in five Australians aged 15-85 experience a mental illness in any given year[2] and the demand for mental health services in Australia is growing rapidly. In 2023, 30 percent[3] of adults were accessing support services for psychologists, psychiatrists and counsellors. However, they are often waiting up to 3 months to see a psychologist, with some waiting more than six months[4]. One in three psychologists are so busy they've had to close their books, compared to one in 100 before the pandemic[5].
Mental health disorders account for 20 per cent of AIA Australia's life insurance claim book, making it the second most claimed condition. Over the past decade, the proportion of mental health claims has increased from one in ten claims in 2014 to one in four in 2024.
Damien Mu, CEO of AIA Australia emphasised the significance of launching My Psychologist as part of the insurer’s wellbeing ecosystem, AIA Embrace.
“AIA Australia has a proven commitment to help Australians lead healthier, longer, better lives. We’re proud to announce that we have taken an important step in the life insurance industry to improve access to mental health support in Australia,” Mu said.
“In line with our focus on prevention and health promotion, we recognise the significant impact that seeking the right treatment at the earliest opportunity can have on an individual’s overall health.
“The launch of My Psychologist for our life insurance customers and their immediate family members is a step to address the unprecedented demand for qualified psychological services. This service will ensure users can access mental health support in a timely manner, providing them with a sense of empowerment and professional care during their mental health journey.”
Members of superannuation fund HESTA will be among the first to access the service and HESTA’s Chief Experience Officer Lisa Samuels said My Psychologist can greatly support the Fund’s members.
“HESTA has more than one million members, many of whom work in the health and community services sector. Due to the demanding nature of their roles, some of these members can often face mental health challenges. This can lead to them taking extended time out of the workforce. HESTA analysis shows that poor mental health can result is in as much as a 27 per cent reduction in members’ super savings at retirement,” Ms Samuels said.
“By partnering with AIA Australia in the My Psychologist program, our aim is to better support HESTA members by connecting them with affordable and accessible mental health support, so they can receive help when they need it.”
AIA’s My Psychologist is available now. To speak with a psychologist, visit https://www.onlinepsychologist.com.au/aia
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