Insurance brokerage firm Gallagher has expanded its insurance offering for professional footballers to include mental health coverage.
The move is said to be in response to an increasing mental health challenges amongst the professional footballers in the past few years.
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According to a report by Professional Footballers’ Association, there has been a six-fold rise in number of current and former players accessing mental health services between 2013 and 2018.
The coverage provides up to £10,000 for therapy as well as access to a telephone counselling service available 24 hours a day.
Unlike other ocverages available in the market, the players need not to go through a career-ending or career-threatening injury to avail these services.
Gallagher’s Specialty division partner and Sport head Michael Owen said: “One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year and over 10% of the population will be suffering from depression at any given time.
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By GlobalData“Mental health issues don’t discriminate, and with statistics like these, professional football clubs cannot afford to overlook the mental wellbeing of their players – and it is vital for them to have access to fast and appropriate treatment if needed.”
Gallagher’s new offering said to complement its available insurance product for the footballers, which covers key risks faced by the palyers on and off the field.
It includes personal injury cover, including career-ending insurance, accident or illness that permanently prevents them from continuing their career. It also provides high net worth insurance for personal assets, comprising buildings, contents and motor insurance, as well as optional cover for yachts, valuables and fine art.
Apart from its specialised insurance offering for footballers, Gallagher also offers risk management, consultancy and insurance solutions to athletes, sports clubs, associations, and major sports franchises globally.
In March, Gallagher entered into a multi-year sponsorship partnership with AMB Sports and Entertainment.
