Vitality reports surge in mental health claims

Vitality has released more data from its upcoming Health Claims and Insights report 2025, which shows a massive surge in mental health claims over the last five years

Mental health claims have more than doubled – rising by 119% between 2019 and 2024 – said the insurer.

The sharpest growth (167%) came from talking therapies, which include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling. Rates of claims related to anxiety disorders and depression increased by 68% and 53% respectively.

Vitality said younger policyholders were most likely to use talking therapy benefits in 2024, with the highest rates among those aged 30–39, followed by those under 30. The rise is in line with wider national trends. NHS England data shows that one in five people aged 8–25 had a probable mental disorder in 2023, with the highest rates among 17–19-year-olds.

However, while talking therapy claims have risen, Vitality said it had seen a 41% decline in inpatient and day-patient mental health claims and a 17% fall in outpatient claims over the same period.

VitalityHealth CEO Arun Thiyagarajan 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.’