The Insurance News Wellness Survey 2021 has already attracted about 800 responses detailing the experience of remote working and how the insurance industry has managed the mental health impacts of COVID and related restrictions.

Emailed to subscribers last week to coincide with R U OK? Day, the survey invites readers to anonymously share feedback about workloads, work-life balance, hours and productivity, flexibility, childcare and home-schooling, equipment and ergonomics and mood and feelings.

Full survey results will be shared in the next Insurance News magazine with the intention of identifying any issues that employers could address.

“We hope you’ll participate in the Insurance News Wellness Survey 2021. It will only take a few minutes to complete,” Publisher Terry McMullan said.

He notes the COVID pandemic has dramatically altered the lives of Australians with associated lockdowns, working from home, vaccination uncertainty, closed borders, mask orders and a range of new rules that severely limit freedoms.

“The impact on individuals’ personal and professional lives – past, present and even future – has been immense,” Mr McMullan said.

The initiative is intended to reveal information about different aspects of mental health and wellbeing within the industry, and to identify issues employees are experiencing that need to be resolved.

Studies show a considerable increase in mental health issues, with a fifth of Australians suffering high or very high levels of psychological distress related to COVID-19.

Lifeline Australia experienced its four busiest days in its 57-year history last month, with more than 694,000 calls for help in 2021 so far, which is a record.

Almost half of Australians (45%) will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.

Click here to take the Insurance News survey.