Legal & General has launched a campaign to raise awareness of mental health in the workplace.
The FTSE 100 insurer has teamed up with sporting personalities to create the "Not a Red Card Offence" campaign.
This seeks to use sport to raise awareness, educate, and encourage action around reducing the stigma of mental health in the workplace.
The campaign coincides with Mental Health Awareness week, which Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal & General, said was a "good opportunity" for financial advisers.
The national focus this week (8 to 12 May) on mental health is a chance for advisers to start conversations with corporate and individual clients about employee support networks and the benefits of workplace protection, Mr Wilson suggested.
Given the current state of the NHS, private medical insurance (PMI) has become a popular benefit for employers to offer.Emma WilsonHe said: "This campaign aims to help employees suffering from mental health issues feel confident enough to approach their manager or a colleague for support.
"It can also provide employers with guidance around how to spot the signs of an issue and so help that individual address it.
"Making positive changes to improve our mental and physical health is something we are passionate about."
Research carried out by Legal & General has revealed only 4 per cent of employees who have experienced depression, and 5 per cent who have experienced anxiety, feel able to talk to their manager or superior about it.
As a result, often employees do not realise their workplace protection policies, whether group income protection or private medical insurance, have dedicated support services as a benefit attached to the policy.
These support services can help employees cope while working or even assist them as they return to work.
The Not A Red Card Offence campaign will feature renowned sporting personalities who are also mental health advocates, including rugby union referee Nigel Owens, Team GB Gold medal-winning hockey players Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh, and former Premier League footballer Clarke Carlisle.
Mr Owens said: "It is important people don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed if they experience a mental health issue.
"It is not a sign of weakness; in fact accepting it and talking about it is a sign of great strength.
"I didn’t think twice about supporting this campaign."
There will be a dedicated microsite for advisers and clients to use, at legalandgeneral.com/notaredcard, with resources, key information and content from the sports heroes taking part.
Emma Wilson, employee benefits consultant for financial advice firm Drewberry Insurance, said: "Employers who are sympathetic to these issues have several options.
"Group health insurance plans, for example, can include psychiatric cover, which speeds up diagnosis of a mental illness thanks to much faster treatment than they could expect from the NHS.
"Given the current state of the NHS, private medical insurance (PMI) has become a popular benefit for employers to offer and one that's highly valued by employees."
When it comes to group income protection policies, Ms Wilson added: "Group income protection, where an employer takes out insurance to cover their employees' wages if they're unable to work, is another option.
"Modern insurers also offer access to health and wellbeing services to help manage and reduce workplace stress."
Earlier this year, Legal & General launched its Mental Health First Aiders programme and is to launch line manager computer-based training during Mental Health Awareness Week.
In 2013 Legal & General signed the pledge with Time to Change, a major anti-stigma programme run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, and funded by the Department of Health and Comic Relief.
simoney.kyriakou@ft.com
