Zurich Financial Services Australia has outlined new commitments aimed at improving its understanding of mental health conditions, including the potential launch of a collaborative research project.
The initiative follows discussions from the latest Zurich Mental Health Roundtable in February, where industry stakeholders explored ways to enhance underwriting, claims processing, and prevention strategies related to mental health.
“Zurich is continuing to witness the rising and profound impact of mental health conditions across our diverse customer base, with up to a quarter of applications now including mental health disclosures and more than two thirds of claims relating to mental health conditions for some products,” Zurich CEO Justin Delaney said.
Alongside this research effort, Zurich has begun implementing initiatives based on feedback from roundtable participants. The company is rolling out mental health and vicarious trauma training for its claims team and working with the University of Technology Sydney to explore how artificial intelligence could be used to better understand the causes of mental ill-health.
Zurich has also appointed a head of health services to oversee its medical officers and in-house psychologists who support mental health claims.
Established in July 2024, the Zurich Mental Health Roundtable serves as a bi-annual forum for insurers, healthcare professionals, and mental health organisations to share insights on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Its latest session was attended by representatives from Black Dog Institute, Lifeline Australia, Gotcha4Life Foundation, Bupa, and Mandala Partners.
Participants welcomed the opportunity for cross-sector collaboration.
“Zurich’s commitment to listening and learning from those with deep and diverse expertise is a positive step toward providing better support for Australians,” Gotcha4Life Foundation CEO Belinda Elworthy said.
Bupa’s clinical director Dr. Simon Benson emphasized the importance of shared responsibility: “We all have a role to play in addressing mental health challenges facing our community. By combining our real-world experiences, resources, knowledge, and expertise, we can create a more comprehensive and integrated approach to care that meets the changing health and well-being needs of Australians.”
Zurich says the roundtable will continue to inform its policies and strategies as it examines new ways to address mental health challenges within the insurance sector.
