ADVERTORIAL DISCOVERY HEALTH
The sharpest rise in mental health conditions is in young adults aged 18 – 24, where prevalence more than doubled between 2012 and 2024( a 128 % increase). The 2024 data shows that compared to older members( aged 30 years and over), younger members( aged 20 – 29) claimed more for psychotherapy and the use of digital mental health tools( 71 %) than for prescribed medicine for mental healthcare( 26 %).
These findings highlight the growing mental health pressures faced by young people and the importance of early, proactive, and targeted support.
The impact of Personal Health Pathways on mental health screening Personal Health Pathways is a data-driven tool that builds hyper-personalised health journeys for each adult DHMS member, recommending tailored health actions at the right time. Members using the programme are rewarded for regularly checking in on their mental health. For those already diagnosed or at-risk of a mental health condition, regular screening helps both them and their treating mental healthcare professional with symptom severity monitoring, treatment plan adjustments, and clinical management.
Improving outcomes through targeted interventions
Having tracked this rise in mental health conditions across the Scheme, Discovery Health has focused on designing data-driven solutions that translate insights into meaningful impact for DHMS members. These interventions include:
The Mental Health Care Programme The Mental Health Care Programme provides structured, outof-hospital primary care support for members diagnosed with depression, including GP consultations, psychotherapy sessions, antidepressant medication coverage, and access to internetbased cognitive behavioural therapy( iCBT).
Among the members who completed pre- and post-programme assessments, 62 % improved their Patient Health Questionnaire-9( PHQ-9) scores, while only 13 % reported worsening symptoms.
South Africa’ s first funded digital therapeutic for depression Delivered in partnership with Silvercloud ® by Amwell ®, Discovery Health’ s digital-therapy solution is the first funded iCBT benefit in SA, providing evidence-based support for members experiencing depression, or depression with anxiety.
Among those completing PHQ-9 assessments before and after therapy, the proportion of members reporting moderate-tosevere symptoms dropped from 56 % to 35 %.
Depression Risk Management Programme Launched in 2025, the Depression Risk Management Programme uses an advanced machine learning algorithm and mental wellbeing assessments to identify at-risk members and offer sixmonth lifestyle support focused on sleep, stress, physical activity, and nutrition. Participants also get primary care consultations, mental health coaching, and digital therapy where appropriate.
Between January and December 2025, over 510 000 DHMS members activated their Personal Health Pathways, completing 3.8 million weekly exercise actions and 654 000 health actions, including more than 118 000 mental wellbeing assessments.
How sleep quality and quantity shape mental health Discovery’ s‘ Sleep Factor’ white paper, based on 47 million sleep records from over 105 000 members, shows that sleep health is one of the strongest predictors of mental health outcomes – as powerful as diet and exercise.
The study found that members who sleep less than six hours per night have a 1.2-times higher likelihood of moderate-tosevere depression symptoms compared to those sleeping seven to eight hours. Those with irregular sleep patterns – sleeping outside a two-hour window of their usual schedule – face a 22 % higher risk of mortality and a significantly greater risk of mood disturbance.
Encouragingly, improving both sleep duration and regularity can reduce mortality risk by 24 % and improve mental health scores within months.
At Discovery Health, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing awareness, improving access to care, and delivering personalised, evidence-based support for our members. By using data responsibly, partnering with healthcare professionals, and empowering our members with evidence-based tools, we can drive better outcomes at scale. ■
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