Mental Health Hub
As we move out of lockdown, what’s normal for you?
However you’re feeling, we’re here to support your mental health.
Support for your mental health − with or without health insurance
Whether you have mental health cover with us or not, you can turn to Bupa for help. We also want to open up the conversation about mental health at work, so we’ve developed useful advice and guidance to help support businesses and employees with mental health in the workplace.
But if you do have health insurance with us, you might be surprised to learn that many of our policies come with mental health cover as standard – so do check your policy wording. And we cover more mental health conditions than any other leading UK insurer†, even for conditions which come back.‡
Free mental health support from our experts
All of us, at different times, may struggle with our mental health. So if that feels like you right now, you’re not alone − and we’re here to help. We can provide mental health support whether you have Bupa health insurance or not.
We offer free information, advice and sources of support on subjects such as depression, anxiety, stress, addiction and OCD. There’s also help with coping with grief, becoming a new parent, difficulty sleeping, and more, including mental health for teenagers and children.
I don’t want insurance, but I need help with my mental health
I have Bupa health insurance and I’m looking for mental health support
Learn about Bupa health insurance
Learn about Bupa health insurance for businesses
However you feel about life after lockdown, we can help
Normal is different for all of us, and the pandemic has been a struggle for many. As we ease out of restrictions and start getting together again, we may all react differently. Some of us might be feeling anxious even as those around us may seem quite excited.
So whether you feel overjoyed or overwhelmed about life after lockdown, you can turn to us for mental health support − even if you don’t have mental health cover with us. Find out more in our video.
Some days you just don’t feel normal.
But what is normal?
Feeling you can’t face the day?
Face work?
Or friends?
In truth, normal is different for all of us.
For free help and advice…
Search Bupa mental health hub.
Bupa x UK Sport
Inside mental health
You might already know the important role that exercise plays in looking after your physical health. But did you know that keeping active can also support your mental health?
In this video, Nile Wilson opens up about his experience with mental health, alongside fellow athletes Will Bayley and Hannah Cockroft. They also share their advice for looking after your mental wellbeing.
(gentle music)
I was lucky because my parents never looked at me
having a disability.
I think that was a really good thing
'cause I never felt like I had any barriers.
I do feel like it gives me a lot of perspective.
I don't feel like I've had a harder life than anyone else,
it's just a different type of challenge.
Everyone has a challenge.
I just think that I've just found a way to make it work.
- I just got told, as a person with a disability,
"Sport is not for you."
And I just accepted that.
When I was 12, one of my support assistants
at secondary school
brought in the local wheelchair basketball team
to my school to do a demo.
It completely changed my life that day.
And this whole world of sport got opened up to me.
(upbeat music)
- You know, a lot happened for me.
It seemed very, very quickly.
At 18 years old, I sort of stepped on
the world stage of gymnastics.
And then very shortly after that
I started to achieve a lot of success
in YouTube and business.
I think, overtime I got caught in this sort of trap
of thinking that was all real.
- I don't think I can say like every day is perfect.
Every day is a different challenge.
And just take it day-by-day.
- My mental health started to deteriorate
and then when I'd get an injury,
which in my case, like I had neck surgery.
It was quite a bad one.
It sort of knocked me for six,
and I'd fall off a cliff.
And my behavior started to become more erratic.
I started to drink more alcohol.
I started to party more.
And before I know it I'm really, really struggling.
It's really important for people to know
that an alpha athlete's success
still has the same struggles as everyone else does
in day to their life.
I'd like to say I'm just a lad from Leeds,
that happened to work hard and do gymnastics.
Realized that I wasn't okay.
And then just having the courage to go, "You know what?
I'm not doing that good."
And everyone around you, they noticed
and I wasn't being myself.
And I think it's just trying to find a person,
even just one person that you trust
is going to remove judgment.
(upbeat music)
- I think my advice is just choose
what you want to listen to.
Just put it away.
If you're not having a good day,
just put it down, read a book, go for a walk,
whatever it is that you want to do, allow yourself to do it.
And don't feel guilty.
- If you're caught in the rat race of scrolling
and looking at everyone's perfect life, it is stressful.
It makes you anxious.
It adds pressure of trying to maintain
and keep up a certain image.
- I try and be around people that make me feel good
like as much as I can.
Sometimes it can be pretty dark
when you're playing table tennis
and you've got your teammates around you,
they're all trying to beat you anyway in there.
But I think when I talk about those problems
to my teammates, and I say, "I feel a bit low today.
I'm not feeling it."
They can really help me.
So just being honest about it helped me.
(upbeat music)
Fitness and activity is massive.
For me, it's everything.
- It's euphoric, it makes you feel
better about yourself instantly.
I've seen people completely turn their life around
just from entertaining fitness.
It does get better.
And there's always something for you to keep moving forward,
to carry on, to keep going.
There's a mountain in front of you to climb,
but I can promise you now, you can climb it
and you can get to the light again.
And I'd implore anyone just to try and have that courage
like I did, just to ask for help.
(upbeat music)
Struggling with your mental health? Just get in touch.
If you have Bupa health insurance with mental health cover, and you need some support, give our mental health team a call. We can help you access the treatment, help and support you need, and we may be able to arrange a telephone consultation with a mental health practitioner – often without you having to see a GP first.††
Call on 0808 231 5114^
Or find out about mental health treatment options for you and your family:
Hear real-life stories from some of our members
Every year, one in four adults deals with mental health problems‡‡. So no one should ever feel embarrassed about it. Our video stories show how we’ve supported some Bupa customers on their own mental health journeys.
Jameel struggled with both anxiety and depression
‘Normal’ for Jameel meant a constant feeling of worry in the pit of his stomach. He also felt miserable, even though he was under pressure from his family to make everyone else feel happy.
Our video shows how Bupa’s health insurance helped Jameel to feel better and improve his mental health.
JAMEEL:
Being around other people is the most natural thing in the world. But to me…it’s liberating.
You don’t always realise when something’s happening to you. I know I didn’t.
I’ve always been a worrier.
From a young age, my family put a lot of pressure on me. As I got older, my anxiety spiralled
I couldn’t leave the house, I’d jump every time the doorbell rang. I was very, very low.
My wife said: “It breaks my heart to see you like this, you need help.”
I had Bupa cover through work, so I made the call to reach out.
Bupa helped me choose a therapist… I was in control of who I went to see… they were fantastic.
PAT:
With anxiety, or depression, you always worry about the next wave. So getting the right treatment for you, as quickly as possible, is really important.
From the moment you pick up the phone, we’re here for you
JAMEEL:
Between my therapist, my wife, and Bupa, my confidence is higher than it’s ever been.
I’m so grateful for everything Bupa has done for me. They’ve helped change my life.
Dealing with anxiety
A little bit of anxiety helps to keep us on our toes, but too much can be a real problem.
Coping with depression
Depression isn’t just about feeling a bit down. It’s a genuine mental health condition.
Teenage mental health
This can be a challenging time anyway, but COVID-19 may have been an extra struggle.
Visit our Workplace Wellbeing Hub
Many of us spend most of our waking hours working, so the way we feel at work really matters. We might take our problems with us, or develop new ones there. Nowadays, ‘the workplace’ can mean working from home, too, which brings its own mental health benefits and challenges.
Our Workplace Wellbeing Hub is packed with helpful information and tips to help improve your own and your team’s wellbeing.
Mental health cover as part of your private health insurance
You could get mental health cover included in your Bupa health insurance. Ask for a quote today.
Individuals and families
We could cover the cost of your private healthcare, from diagnosis right through to treatment and after-care.
For small businesses
Our cover can include mental health insurance along with physical health, dental treatments and cash plans.
For corporates
You can tailor a package that includes mental health plus flu vaccinations, occupational health, and much more.
^ Lines are open 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm Saturdays. We may record or monitor our calls.
†As of August 2021, this comparison to other products in the market is based on Bupa’s and Defaqto’s interpretation of the differences between Bupa’s Bupa By You, SME Select and Corporate Select health insurance products and other health insurance products offering mental health cover. The comparison excludes any special offers or promotions which may temporarily alter the cover offered. Cover comparison information is for personal use and guidance only and does not constitute any contractual representation, warranty or obligation by either Bupa or Defaqto about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability of the comparison. Neither party accepts any liability for errors, omissions, direct or consequential loss in relation to this comparison.
See PDF How we compare: Individuals (PDF 0.2MB)
See PDF How we compare: Small business (PDF 0.3MB)
See PDF How we compare: Corporate business (PDF 0.2MB)
‡ Corporate policyholders should check their documents to confirm whether they have mental health cover as standard.
†† Direct Access telephone services are available as long as the symptoms are covered under the policy. If your cover excludes conditions you had before your policy started, we’ll ask you to provide evidence from your GP that your symptoms are not pre-existing for a period of up to two years from policy start date (or up to five years in the case of mental health). We can then refer you to a consultant or therapist through the Direct Access service. Always call us first to check your eligibility.
‡‡Mind.org
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HZ.
