Aetna International announces partnership with wellbeing app Wysa

In response to members’ expanding mental wellbeing needs, Aetna International recently enhanced member access to a range of resources, including its virtual health offering, vHealth, and its Employee Assistance Programme, which provides support from professional clinical counsellors over the phone or face-to-face.

The Wysa app will complement these existing services by giving members instant access to guided mental wellbeing support, which can help people to self-manage feelings of anxiety, financial stress, isolation and more. Aetna International is aiming to engage a broader audience with materials and activities that support mental wellbeing; from a simple anonymous conversation to guidance on appropriate next steps.

Richard di Benedetto, President of Aetna International, said: “The health effects of Covid-19 are not just physical. We are facing an unusual and challenging set of circumstances, which have had a huge impact on the mental health and day-to-day lives of many people. At Aetna International we have long believed that mental wellbeing should be treated as seriously as physical health, which is why we are committed to improving access to mental wellbeing support for our members and employees globally.

“By accelerating our relationship with Wysa, we are providing early mental wellbeing support at scale and, through this, hope to alleviate some of the pressure people are feeling during this incredibly challenging time. The mental and emotional wellbeing impacts of Covid-19, which represent the ‘second curve’ of this pandemic, are likely to stay with us for some time, as people grapple with change and uncertainty in both their workplaces and at home. It is vital that we and other businesses take proactive steps to address this.”