Vitality has reported a sharp rise in mental health-related claims, with rates more than doubling between 2019 and 2024, ahead of the publication of its 2025 Health Claims and Insights Report.
The insurer said overall mental health claims increased by 119% over the five-year period, driven primarily by growing demand for its Talking Therapies offering, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling.
Claims for Talking Therapies rose 167% during the same period.
Claims related to anxiety disorders and depression also increased significantly – up 68% and 53% respectively between 2019 and 2024.
The data showed younger people are the most frequent users of Talking Therapy benefits, with claim rates highest among those aged 30 to 39, followed by people under 30.
The trend mirrors wider national patterns, with NHS England estimating that one in five young people aged 8 to 25 had a probable mental disorder in 2023.
Vitality’s data also indicated a shift in how people are accessing support.
While outpatient and inpatient mental health treatment claims have fallen – down 17% and 41% respectively – claims for early intervention through Talking Therapies have risen sharply, suggesting a greater focus on preventative and accessible treatment options.
Arun Thiyagarajan, CEO of VitalityHealth, said: “At Vitality, we’ve seen a significant rise in mental health claims, which is why we’ve invested in a comprehensive support pathway that includes access to Talking Therapies, app-based tools like Headspace and Wysa, all of which work to help remove barriers to care.
“Our insights, which reflect wider societal trends, highlight that mental health support is no longer a nice to have – it’s a central part of how people engage with their health insurance.
“What’s particularly striking is how younger people are leading this shift, they’re showing us what the future of healthcare looks like: proactive, personalised, and deeply attuned to mental wellbeing.”
