As Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 (11–17 May) focuses on the theme of action, new insights from investment, protection and retirement specialist LV= highlight how protection‑led wellbeing services can support people’s mental health beyond the point of claim.
LV’s 2025 claims data shows sustained demand for mental health support among working-age adults. Nearly two in five customers who accessed mental health support services during the year were aged 36–45, with a further third aged 26–35 also seeking support. Anxiety was the most common reason for access, closely followed by depression and stress.
Women were more likely than men to use mental health support (55% versus 45% of those who accessed the service), pointing to a continued gender gap in engagement.
The findings reflect wider pressures facing the working population. LV’s 2026 Reaching Resilience Report shows that when asked about the impact of a major health issue or serious injury, 11% of workers reported experiencing a mental health event lasting two months or more while continuing to work, while 65% said access to mental health support would influence their decision when choosing a protection policy.
Together, the data highlights the growing expectation that protection should provide practical wellbeing support alongside financial cover.
The role of personal protection is evolving beyond income replacement at the claim stage to play a broader role in supporting recovery and resilience. LV= Doctor Services, included as standard with all LV= Protection policies, provides policyholders with 24/7 access to remote GP appointments and mental health support, including counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other remote psychological services.
Earlier access to professional support can enable timely conversations and guidance when mental health concerns arise. Remote psychological services offer an alternative pathway to care, helping people access support when they need it rather than waiting for traditional routes.
For advisers, LV’s insights reinforce the value of recommending protection solutions that go beyond a financial safety net, delivering day‑to‑day support that better reflects how clients experience illness, recovery and ongoing wellbeing in real life.
Mike Farrell, Protection Sales and Marketing Director at LV=, said:
“Mental Health Awareness Week is a call for action. Our insights show that more people, particularly younger generations, are actively seeking help and expect support to be accessible when they need it.
For advisers, protection has an important role to play in turning awareness into action. By recommending policies that include services like LV= Doctor Services, advisers can help clients access timely mental health support, supporting recovery, resilience and long‑term wellbeing alongside financial security.”
LV= supports advisers by providing relevant insights, tools and resources to help them have impactful protection conversations. These can be viewed on the LV= Reaching Resilience hub.
