Travelers introduces mental health app for injured employees

Travelers announced the launch of Wysa for Return to Work – an app designed to promote the mental health of injured employees and facilitate a more holistic recovery. The app was created in partnership with Wysa, a provider of mental health support solutions driven by artificial intelligence.

According to Travelers workers compensation claim data, more than 40% of employees who have missed workdays due to injury have experienced a psychosocial barrier to recovery. The Wysa for Return to Work app helps users build mental resilience skills that can assist in overcoming those barriers. The app responds to what users communicate through a secure, anonymous, texting-style platform, and offers strategies that include cognitive behavioral techniques, guided meditation and breathing exercises.

The new app is accessible to injured employees who indicate one or more psychosocial barriers to their recovery during conversations with a Travelers nurse or claim professional. Early pilot results show that injured employees using Wysa for Return to Work have reduced the number of missed workdays by approximately one-third, compared to those not using the app.

“Factors unrelated to an individual’s injury, such as fear, unrealistic expectations, lack of sleep or minimal social support, can hinder the recovery process. Helping injured employees bounce back requires an approach that addresses an individual’s physical and mental health challenges, and we’re pleased to offer another tool that supports the total well-being of our customers’ employees.” – Dr. Marcos Iglesias, chief medical director at Travelers.