The Government is considering proposals to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16 as part of wider efforts to improve young people's mental health. While the debate around any future legislation continues, it has once again brought children's wellbeing into the national spotlight.
For employers, this presents an opportunity to think beyond the headlines.
Many organisations are rightly investing in employee wellbeing, but supporting employees increasingly means supporting their families too. Parents who are worried about a child's mental health often carry that stress into the workplace, affecting their own wellbeing, productivity and ability to perform at their best.
Children's mental health is everyone's concern
Mental health challenges among children and young people have become an increasingly important issue in recent years. While there are many contributing factors, including social media, education, family circumstances and wider societal pressures, one thing is clear: early access to the right support can make a significant difference.
Whether or not the proposed social media restrictions are introduced, conversations around children's mental health are unlikely to disappear.
This makes it an ideal time for employers to review how they support employees and their families.
Looking beyond traditional healthcare benefits
Many employers already provide Private Medical Insurance (PMI) as part of their employee benefits package. However, these policies often offer much more than faster access to medical treatment.
Depending on the insurer and level of cover, many PMI schemes now include valuable mental health support for eligible dependants, helping families access specialist advice and treatment sooner when it is needed most.
Support can include:
- Fast access to mental health assessments and specialist treatment.
- Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
- Virtual GP services that can provide early advice and referrals.
- Child and adolescent mental health support where included within the policy.
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), offering confidential advice, counselling and practical support for employees and their families.
For many employers, these services are already available but are often underused simply because employees are unaware they exist.
Helping employees when they need it most
When an employee is supporting a child experiencing mental health challenges, timely access to appropriate support can make a real difference for the whole family.
Providing access to healthcare services is only part of the solution. Helping employees understand what support is available and encouraging them to use it can also reduce stress, improve wellbeing and enable them to remain focused at work during difficult periods.
Regular communication, awareness campaigns and benefit education can all play an important role in ensuring employees receive the full value of the benefits already in place.
A good time to review your employee benefits
The discussion around children's mental health serves as an important reminder that employee wellbeing extends beyond the workplace.
As expectations around health and wellbeing continue to evolve, employers should consider whether their current benefits package is providing the right level of support for employees and their families, and whether employees fully understand the services available to them.
Sometimes, the greatest value isn't introducing new benefits. It's helping people make better use of those they already have.
If you'd like to review your current employee benefits package or better understand the wellbeing support available through your existing cover, the Clear Employee Benefits team would be pleased to help.
