Swiss Re has entered into an exclusive partnership with mental health platform Wysa to create a global mental wellbeing app.
The insurance-specific app will help consumers better track their mental wellbeing and improve links to insurers’ existing support networks, such as therapy providers or employee assistance programmes.
Wysa’s existing app counts Google among its investors and features AI-guided listening and self-management mental wellbeing support modules.
It is used and recommended by health bodies such as the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and Singapore’s Ministry of Health.
The new app will include improved monitoring and mental health tracking, curated pathways to signpost consumers to relevant offline support and better reporting for insurance clients.
This is aimed at enabling “pre-notification of claims” by encouraging policyholders to seek support.
Providing improved support opens the opportunity for insurers to make claims savings and increase consumer engagement – especially for disability products. Potential pilot markets include Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK, the pair said.
Commenting on the development, Swiss Re head of life and health global core solutions Jolee Crosby, said: “The insurance industry is striving to better understand and prevent mental illness.
“We’re delighted to be developing this app with Wysa, which will support insurers in their goal of improving both their products and the consumer experience for those looking to stay on top of their mental wellbeing.”
Ramakant Vempati, co-founder and president of Wysa, added: “Wysa is very excited about this partnership with Swiss Re as we share a common objective to do more to support people with their mental wellbeing.
“We are convinced that, based on our existing capabilities and the app’s new components, we are building a unique solution together that integrates scalable, AI-enabled responsive early-stage mental health support into the insurance industry.”