Gjensidige gives half a million Norwegians access to strengthen their mental health

Demand for psychologist services is growing year on year

Demand for psychologist services has grown steadily in Norway, especially since the pandemic. For Gjensidige, the question became concrete: how do you help as many policyholders as possible with their mental health, with help that actually works?

The logic was preventive: catch problems early, provide the right tools at the right time, reducing the risk that common life problems develop into more serious difficulties. For corporate customers, the logic is direct: negative stress that isn't addressed in time can develop into long-term sick leave. That's costly for the employee, the company, and the insurer. It required an offering with genuine clinical quality behind it.

"The goal is to give customers easy access to tools that help them feel better, and above all, reduce the risk that they develop more serious mental health problems."
‍
Ellen Nordhagen, Head of Health Services, Gjensidige

More than a therapy session: support when you need it

Gjensidige began testing digital treatment as early as 2016, and from 2017 child-insurance customers got access to structured programs. Since then, the offering has been built out step by step, into treatment insurance and the corporate market, as results showed it worked.

What mattered wasn't a single feature. It was the whole: a broad program library, the ability to combine self-guided work with psychologist support, and research that actually holds up to scrutiny. And crucially: help available between sessions, not just during them.

Policyholders can work on their own thought patterns, learn techniques for handling difficult thoughts and feelings, and get concrete tools at their own pace. For those who want it, psychologist support is available along the way. 100% of policyholders who have used the offering report that Braive was decisive or entirely decisive in seeking help early enough.

Gjensidige has found that having freedom of choice around psychologist follow-up during the program matters. Most people want psychologist support, but the program can also be completed entirely independently for those who prefer that.

"It's a really good offering. You get more than just a video call with a psychologist, you also have to actively work on your own between sessions. Being able to point to results was a key reason we chose Braive."
Ellen Nordhagen, Head of Health Services, Gjensidige

Companies that are good at informing their employees that they have access to a preventive service can see results in both lower sick leave and lower use of psychologist treatment through their treatment insurance.

Documented effect: better health, lower threshold

Results come from independently published research based on Gjensidige's clients.

• ~500,000 Norwegian policyholders currently have access to mental health support via Gjensidige, across treatment, child, and disability insurance
• 57% reach normal symptom levels after treatment, vs. 17% before treatment start
• ~50% average symptom reduction in anxiety and depression
• Higher program engagement is directly linked to better treatment outcomes

A partnership in motion

Gjensidige and Braive have built a collaboration over several years, not around a single solution, but around a shared goal: helping as many people as possible with their mental health in a way that actually works. That trust is the foundation for both parties continuing to develop the offering further.

"What we value about Braive is that they're always ahead of the curve. They're quick to develop the offering, and there's always solid research behind it. That makes us curious about what's coming next, and confident it's worth trying."
Ellen Nordhagen, Head of Health Services, Gjensidige

‍

‍