The innovative AXA Health Neurodiversity Assessment and Support service, which launched in 2022, has seen take up of the service continue to thrive, with over 7,000 enrolments onto the service last year.
The service, which can be added by organisations as part of their corporate healthcare scheme, provides members with prompt assessments, diagnosis and onward assistance to empower and support them, whilst addressing the challenges of long wait times and access to expert practitioners. The online service connects members across the UK to experts, and an initial needs assessment is usually available within a few days of registering.
Approximately one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent and it is estimated that around half of that number have not been diagnosed. The service continues to see strong uptake, with approximately 600 enrolments each month (over 7,000 last year). Those aged between 30 and 39 are the most common users of the service (23%) and children aged 7 to 17 make up 33%.
The main referral into the service by a significant margin is ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), followed by autism.
The service, which is delivered by ProblemShared, has been extremely well received, with over 88% of members stating that they would recommend it. Many shared that they feel empowered by their diagnosis and have gained a new understanding. One user commented:
I first got diagnosed with ADHD and then later got diagnosed with autism. It suddenly made sense of so many things. That the whole thing has made my life so much better and my relationship with my colleagues and my family and friends, it's just made me understand things better…help them understand me better. And I think it's just been really, really useful and really helpful for me and everyone involved with me.
The service supports beyond an assessment and possible diagnosis and has seen high uptake of onward care, with 80% of users confirming they will access at least one post-diagnostic option. These can include medication titration (the process of balancing a patient’s medication), talking therapies and help navigating education support. In addition, AXA Health continues to develop and evolve its support for neurodivergent employees in the workplace, with specific content added to the AXA Health App. This is available to corporate private healthcare clients and users of their Employee Assistance Programme, to assist individuals and managers alike.
This year also saw the service being made available to AXA UK employees – up to the end of February, 126 cases had been set up (for AXA Health employees), with 82% having had their initial needs assessment.
Rich Glassborrow, Director of Proposition, Distribution & Marketing, AXA Health said: “We’re really proud of our service and the help it has provided to thousands of people with significantly reduced wait times, from years to weeks, for assessment and diagnosis. The service also offers post-diagnostic support which help members and their families to feel seen and understood and enables them to focus on their strengths and abilities. It also enables workplaces to create inclusive and supportive environments where people can thrive and be themselves.”
