For years, health insurers have grown their books by focusing on acquiring younger, healthier lives. The theory is simple: young people have fewer health conditions and claim less. Skew your book positively towards these good risks, and you balance out the risks in your older, sicker population. But is this still the case? With poor mental health on the rise in young adult populations, how does this change the way we view mental health in young people and the risk they present to private health insurers and health systems? And most importantly, what can you do about it?

To help answer these questions, iFHP has teamed up with the Medical Effectiveness Member Network and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to sponsor a MSc International Health Policy student, Chi Wing (Winky) Chan as she undertakes a study of the changing nature of mental health in younger populations.

Winky will research and compile her report over the European summer. If you are interested in hearing more about Winky’s work and want to get involved, please email Barbara Vanneuville (barbara@ifhp.com)