The £51 Billion Wake-Up Call:
How Bupa Is Future-Proofing Mental Health

Poor mental health is now the leading cause of long-term sickness absence in the UK, costing employers an estimated £51 billion a year. 

Behind every statistic are real people: therapists, clinicians, support teams and community leads who show up every day to help others feel seen, heard and supported, often during life’s most vulnerable moments to help them with their mental health. 

That’s why we’re expanding our network of dedicated mental health centres to make high-quality, face-to-face therapy faster and easier to access to help tackle this crisis.  

We're opening 70 Mindplace mental health centres across the UK by the end of 2027. Each one offers: 

• Rapid access to therapy 
• Evidence-based treatments like CBT, counselling and psychotherapy 
• Supportive spaces designed for both clients and clinicians 

But who’s supporting the people behind the scenes?  

Supporting the People Powering Mindplace 

      Gary, CBT Therapist                                    Emilia, Clinical Psychologist 

At the heart of Bupa’s Mindplace mission are the therapists who create safe, healing spaces for others, while also being supported themselves, just like Gary and Emilia. For many, working at Mindplace isn’t just a job; it’s a deeply personal alignment of values and purpose. 

“Mental health support should be available to accommodate all individual needs, and the Mindplace mission makes it possible for more people to access this,” says Emilia. Her words reflect a shared belief that mental health deserves the same visibility and investment as physical health, and that stigma is slowly being replaced by understanding. 

The environment at Mindplace plays a vital role in enabling this care. From thoughtfully designed therapy rooms to small touches like fresh fruit and coffee, the surroundings help therapists feel grounded and supported. As Gary, puts it:  

“Lovely clinical therapy rooms, in a relaxed, private and supportive environment, enable me to provide the best possible care I can.” 

But beyond the physical space, it’s the culture of care that makes the biggest difference. Monthly wellness hours, supervision sessions, and peer support are not just perks — they’re essential tools that help therapists manage the emotional weight of their work. “The empathy we feel for our clients and the emotions we are faced with can be draining,” Emilia explains. “The strong sense of support between employees is an invaluable asset we can use to decompress.” 

Shaping the Future of Workplace Wellbeing 

Both Emilia and Gary agree: the future of workplace mental health must be proactive, inclusive and embedded into everyday culture. From reflective practice sessions to psychoeducation and leadership-led destigmatisation, they see Bupa as a key player in shaping that future. 

Their message to employers is clear: investing in mental health isn’t just compassionate — it’s smart. 

“Healthy and happy people work best,” Gary says. 

‘’If the employees feel supported, and have the ability to seek support for their concerns at an early stage, it will more likely lead to a quicker recovery and increase quality of life and happiness.’’ Emilia says.  

At Bupa, we believe the future of care starts with the people behind it.