Vitality has launched a children’s mental health proposition aimed at giving children named as dependents on their parent’s health insurance plan access to prevention and early intervention support.
The insurer has expanded its mental health support to include a dedicated pathway for children and young people aged 5 to 18.
The services offer age-appropriate digital tools designed to support everyday emotional wellbeing, while identifying when more specialist support may be needed.
The insurer said they have been designed to give families the confidence to act early, before issues escalate.
The pathway, designed with the recognition and understanding that supporting a child’s mental health starts with supporting parents, offers parent guides and resources to help parents understand what their child may be experiencing, the options available and how best to support them at home.
It includes:
- Free access to Headspace for teens which is designed to help young people manage everyday challenges such as exam stress, sleep, confidence and navigating change. Age‑appropriate mindfulness and meditation courses and tools are also available.
- Wysa for teens which is a clinically safe, evidence‑based AI coach built by therapists and used within the NHS for ages 13 to 18.
- Sandbox from Mindler, a dedicated remote mental health platform designed specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 18.
- Talking therapy delivered in person or online, where children can access talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) without need for a GP referral.
Children will continue to have access to clinical care as part of the wider health insurance offering.
Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, chief executive officer of VitalityHealth, said: “Mental health has moved steadily up the agenda in recent years. Providing the right care, support and pathways has been a real focus for us.
“When a child struggles with their mental health, the whole family feels it. But early support can make a real difference – and quickly. It can change the trajectory of someone’s life entirely.
“This is why joined-up mental health services, for every age and every level of need, matter so much. The sooner we reach people, the better the outcomes. For children, for parents, and for the adults those children will become.”
