The COVID-19 pandemic not only posed a physical health hazard to humanity, but also caused some mental health issues as people were forced to adapt to the new normal of social distancing – and insurance professionals were no exception, a new study has found.
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) surveyed 336 of its members and found that nearly six of out 10 insurance professionals suffered from depression, anxiety, emotional distress, or another mental health condition during the pandemic. The same survey also discovered that a third of the professionals said their mental wellbeing was not impacted by the coronavirus, while 7% indicated that they were unsure if they were depressed or not.
“Insurance plays a vital role in the lives of billions of people around the world and has the power to transform lives and businesses. In 2020, COVID-19 impacted every customer served by the insurance profession resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of customers in vulnerable circumstances,” commented CII chief membership officer Keith Richards.
In support of its members, the CII has launched a series of web resources on good practice guidance related to mental health. Each of the CII’s insurance-focused societies – the Society of Insurance Broking, the Society of Claims Professionals, and the Society of Underwriting Professionals – has its own mental health good practice resource kit, and the kits are available from their respective websites.
“It is vital the insurance profession puts themselves in their customers’ shoes and considers how they would wish to be treated if they had mental ill-health. However, you can only help others if you also look after your own mental health,” commented Richards.
Richards added that with the rise of remote working, many people feel isolated or under pressure due to their work combining with their personal responsibilities. He said that the CII is urging all insurance professionals to find out what support and resources their employers offer.
