Aviva extends psychological medical health insurance to tech addictions

Aviva has launched a brand new psychological well being possibility enabling
massive firms and organisations to help staff with all addictions,
together with on-line playing, gaming and social media.

Psychological Well being Pathways Plus extends Aviva’s company psychological well being cowl, launched final 12 months, and is offered by means of its Optimum non-public medical insurance coverage scheme for firms with 250 or extra staff.(

Among the many choices is canopy for any addictive situation,
which is a response to rising proof that smartphone use enabling straightforward,
round the clock entry to on-line playing is resulting in new addictive
behaviour. 

Drug and alcohol dependancy are additionally included, with
analysis exhibiting that alcohol abuse is costing UK companies £6.4bn a 12 months in
misplaced productiveness. 

Dr Doug Wright (pictured), medical director of Aviva, warned that addictions can have a big impact on a person’s psychological wellbeing, and to their dwelling and dealing life. 

“Whereas there’s little question that digital know-how gives
many advantages, it’s additionally driving behaviours which may improve folks’s
well being dangers,” he mentioned. “Beforehand, addictions have primarily been
related to medication and alcohol, however now the web and smartphone apps are
resulting in technology-driven addictions resembling on-line gaming and
sensation-seeking leisure in addition to preoccupation with social media.”

Youngsters aged 13 and over and lined by their dad or mum’s
coverage can entry psychological well being help companies. 

Psychological Well being Pathways Plus has additionally eliminated clauses
governing some power psychological well being situations to enhance evaluation, monitoring
and remedy for people with long-term psychological sicknesses.

It gives entry to a community of two,200 clinicians
with out the necessity for GP referral, and evaluation with a psychological well being
practitioner inside 48 hours.

Therapy choices embody on-line cognitive behavioural
remedy, distant periods by cellphone or video hyperlink, face-to-face therapies and inpatient
remedy the place clinically obligatory.