Travelers launches mental health app for injured workers

The Travelers Companies, the country’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, has 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 AI-driven mental health support.

“Factors unrelated to an individual’s injury, such as fear, unrealistic expectations, lack of sleep or minimal social support, can hinder the recovery process,” said Dr. Marcos Iglesias, chief medical director at Travelers. “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 wellbeing of our customers’ employees.”

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More than 40% of employees who have missed work days due to injury have experienced a psychosocial barrier to their recovery, according to Travelers workers’ compensation claim data. The Wysa for Return to Work app helps users build mental resilience skills that can help them overcome those barriers, Travelers said. The app responds to what users communicate through an anonymous, texting-style platform, and offers strategies including cognitive behavioral techniques, guided meditation and breathing exercises.

The app is accessible to injured employees who indicate one or more psychosocial barriers to recovery during conversations with a Travelers nurse or claims professional. Early pilot results indicate that injured workers using the app have reduced the number of missed workdays by about a third, compared to those who did not use the app.