Protection Adviser Spring/Summer 2022 | Page 26

Smart Health by AIG : give your clients a mental health expert to talk to

If your clients or their family need someone to talk to , our team of qualified mental health experts are on hand for confidential support . Specialist support is on offer , for anything from coping with stress , anxiety , trauma and depression to dealing with a recent bereavement . Here ’ s how it works .

What do the mental health sessions on offer usually involve ?
Your customers start by requesting a consultation with a psychologist through the Smart Health web portal or over the phone . Before their appointment , they ’ ll need to complete a quick ID verification , then they ’ re good to go . Your clients will be sent a bio of their allocated psychologist – detailing the experience and specialism of who they ’ ll be talking to . The process actually starts before speaking to the psychologist with a ‘ how to best prepare ’ letter , including questions to help focus the session and a relaxation exercise .
What does the triage involve ?
Before speaking to a psychologist , a Smart Health GP will check to see if there ’ s anything of immediate concern or risk to the patient . They might recommend treatment or support other than the Smart Health mental health service - whatever ’ s going to be best for the patient .
Can a Smart Health GP refer someone straight to the mental health service ?
Yes – this happens frequently following a Smart Health GP consultation . For example , your client might talk to a GP to address their sleeping difficulties , and the GP might recognise the impact of life stressors over the client ’ s ability to sleep and refer them on .
How long are the appointments ?
All four initial consultations offered are 50 minutes long , in line with standard practice . However , sometimes 90-minute appointments are more suitable for those under 18 .
What happens after the four sessions are completed ?
In most cases , your client will reach their goals in fewer sessions . But if issues still remain and it ’ s clinically appropriate , more sessions can be considered . If there ’ s still not an improvement , our recommendation would be for further support outside of Smart Health � it ’ s what ’ s right for the patient . Alternatively , we might offer some alternative resources for your clients to use at their own leisure . Our psychologists have actually written and developed around 30 resources , so it still feels part of their Smart Health journey .
So there ’ s how it works . But as we ’ re sure you know , the power of real-life stories can bring protection and value-added services to life .
26 | THE PROTECTION ADVISER