Unum UK has unveiled a new Health Network within its Help@hand app, in collaboration with mental health charity YoungMinds, to further support the health and wellbeing of employees and their families.
YoungMinds supports parents and carers of children and young people as well as those caring for both children and elderly relatives. The expanded platform offers users access to an extended range of expert resources and support services from trusted partners. Help@hand, which already provides digital GP appointments, mental health support, and wellbeing tools, now connects over 450,000 registered users to a broader health ecosystem designed to meet complex care needs.
According to research by Unum, over one in five UK workers identify as part of the sandwich generation. Around 20 per cent report reduced productivity at work due to their caring responsibilities, 16 per cent have taken sick leave to manage these duties, and 13 per cent have left a job because of insufficient support from their employer. Additionally, data from the Office for National Statistics shows that nearly a third of sandwich carers report symptoms of depression or anxiety, which is higher than the national average.
Unum UK head of proposition development Saumya Barber says: “The new Health Network is designed to bring together a carefully tailored and forward-thinking range of health and wellbeing services to employees and their families. Our partnership with YoungMinds, the mental health charity for children and young people, is a powerful step in the continuous evolution of Help@hand – giving users seamless access to its parental support toolkit and helpline.”
YoungMinds head of philanthropy & partnerships Michelle Kerrigan says: “At YoungMinds, our focus this past year has been on reaching more young people and the adults around them, so we are delighted that our partnership with Unum has allowed for the opportunity to do some further awareness raising of our expert-informed materials and personalised support. YoungMinds offers a wealth of information and advice to support parents in the moment and offers a chance to hear first-hand from other parents or carers with lived experience. Our helpline is there to provide tailored information, advice and support to parents and carers who are concerned about their child or young person’s mental health. By incorporating a direct route to the YoungMinds resources in the Help@hand app we hope to reach more families and provide in-the-moment support when they need it most.”
