46% increase in mental health condition prevalence since 2012, among Discovery Health Medical Scheme members

Johannesburg, 28 October 2025 – New research reveals a sharp rise in mental-health condition prevalence among Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s (DHMS) members over the past 13 years. In 2024, one in seven DHMS members (15% of the overall Scheme population) registered or claimed for a mental health condition – up from one in ten (10%) in 2012 - equivalent to a 46% increase in prevalence over time. The sharpest rise in mental health conditions has been observed among young adults aged 18–24, where prevalence has more than doubled from 2012 to 2024 (128% increase).

Encouragingly, outcomes from Discovery Health’s targeted mental health care programmes and digital interventions show significant improvements in symptom severity. Additionally, new data from a recent white paper, ‘The Sleep Factor’ highlights that sleep quality and regularity are powerful predictors of mental wellbeing – insights that will be integrated into members’ support from 2026.

Mental health conditions among the fastest-rising conditions across the Discovery Health Medical Scheme population

“Every October, as we recognise International Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that mental health is integral to every dimension of wellbeing,” says Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Chief Clinical Officer at Discovery Health (Administrator of DHMS). “Over the past 13 years (2012-2024) mental health conditions have become one of the fastest-rising disease burdens across the Scheme population.”

“To put this into perspective, the number of Scheme members living with a mental health condition - around 450,000 people - would fill seven Ellis Park Stadiums (at 62,000 people each). This is a powerful visual reminder of the scale of mental health conditions across the Scheme’s population.”

• The number of members seeking mental health treatment for the first time has tripled from 2012 to 2024. There was a sharp acceleration in this incidence rate during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (70% increase from 2019 to 2023, compared to only a 48% increase pre-COVID-19 pandemic, from 2015 to 2019).
• Depression and bipolar mood disorder are the fastest-growing mental-health conditions among members, (increasing by 13% and 8% per year respectively since 2012 - growth faster than for any other chronic condition, including those unrelated to mental health).
• Depression accounts for nearly two-thirds (62%) of all cases, growing 88% in prevalence from 2012 to 2024.
• Members affected by depression average 45.6 years of age.

In 2024, only 14% of members with a mental health condition were newly diagnosed or claiming for the first time, where 86% had been living with the condition for a year or longer - highlighting its long-term impact on members’ lives.

Dr Nematswerani adds, “The overlap between mental health conditions and other chronic conditions is significant: 17% of the population with chronic conditions claimed or registered for a mental health condition in 2024, compared to only 11% of members without a chronic condition. Also, those with three or more chronic conditions were 72% more likely to register or claim for a mental health condition.”

Significant mental health impact on female and young adult members

Dr Nematswerani explains: “62% of DHMS members living with mental health conditions in 2024 are female - a pattern consistent across the 13 years reviewed and aligned with global trends. Our analysis shows that female members are more likely than male members both to seek professional help and claim for psychiatric medicine, but this does not necessarily mean that males experience these conditions or their associated symptoms to a lesser extent than females.”

The sharpest rise in mental health conditions has been observed among young adults aged 18–24, where prevalence has more than doubled from 2012 to 2024 (128% increase). The 2024 data show that, compared to older members (aged 30 years and over), younger members (aged 20 – 29) claimed relatively more for psychotherapy and the use of digital mental-health tools (71%) than for prescribed medicine for mental healthcare (26%).

Nematswerani adds, “There has been a notable increase in claims linked to self-harm diagnoses, particularly among females and younger members.”

• In 2024, claims related to suicide or self-harm were 66% higher among females than males (140.6 vs 84.7 per 100,000 members). This pattern has remained consistent over time and mirrors international trends showing higher rates of suicidal and self-harm behaviour among females.
• Also, between 2020 and 2024, members under the age of 24 showed the largest increase in self-harm-related claims - up 32% (from 85.6 to 112.6 per 100,000 lives) compared to an 18% increase among members over 24.

She adds, “These findings highlight the growing mental health pressures faced by young people and the importance of early, proactive, and targeted support.”

How social connection and family wellbeing shape mental health outcomes

• In 2024, children in families where an adult was diagnosed with depression were five times more likely to experience depression themselves, with prevalence rates of 15% compared to 3% in families without an adult diagnosis.
• Also, DHMS members on single-person policies show higher rates of mental health conditions than those in larger family units -1.38 times higher prevalence for single life policies compared to policies of four or more people, possibly reflecting the influence of social support and isolation.

“These patterns reflect the familial and shared emotional and environmental factors that influence mental wellbeing,” says Nematswerani. “Notably, the intergenerational trend has strengthened since the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the importance of early family-based support and intervention.”

Enhancing member outcomes through cutting-edge, targeted interventions

“Having tracked the rise in mental health conditions across the Scheme, Discovery Health has focused on designing data-driven solutions that translate insights into meaningful impact for DHMS members. Through personalised health journeys, digital therapeutics and proactive risk management, these programmes are improving outcomes and empowering members to take charge of their mental health,” adds Nematswerani. “We’re seeing how structured and personalised interventions result in quantifiable improvements in depression symptom severity scores, fewer hospitalisations, and greater resilience among members who engage with our programmes and benefits.”

• Mental Health Care Programme

Launched in 2020, the Mental Health Care Programme provides structured, out-of-hospital primary care support for members diagnosed with depression. It includes consultations with GPs, psychotherapy sessions, antidepressant medication coverage, and access to internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT). Among members who completed pre- and post-programme assessments, 62% improved their Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores, while only 13% reported worsening symptoms. Members enrolled in the Mental Health Care Programme have lower admission rates and better symptom severity improvement compared to like-for-like members who are not enrolled in the Programme. This measurable improvement highlights the programme’s clinical effectiveness and the value of continuous, guided care.

• South Africa’s first funded digital therapeutic for depression

Delivered in partnership with Silvercloud by Amwell®, Discovery Health’s digital-therapy solution is the first funded iCBT benefit in South Africa. It provides convenient, evidence-based support for members experiencing depression or depression with anxiety. Among those completing PHQ-9 assessments before and after engagement with iCBT, the proportion of members reporting moderate-to-severe symptoms dropped from 56% to 35%. This confirms that digital tools can significantly improve access and outcomes.

• Depression Risk Management Programme

Launched in 2025, the Depression Risk Management Programme enhances proactive care by identifying at-risk members before they develop clinical depression. Using an advanced machine-learning algorithm and mental wellbeing assessments, the programme offers a six-month journey grounded in neuro- and behavioural science. Participants receive lifestyle support focused on sleep, stress, physical activity and nutrition, along with primary care consultations, mental health coaching and digital therapy where appropriate. This proactive approach empowers members to manage their risk factors early, build resilience and reduce the severity of symptoms over time.

• Impact of Personal Health Pathways on mental health screening

Personal Health Pathways is a data-driven programme that delivers hyper-personalised health journeys for each adult DHMS member, recommending tailored health actions at the right time. By rewarding members for participation, Personal Health Pathways promotes sustained engagement and measurable behaviour change.

Between January and the end of October 2025, over 425,000 DHMS members activated their Pathways, completing 2.6 million weekly exercise actions and 440,000 health actions, including more than 63,000 mental wellbeing assessments. These results demonstrate PHP’s role in closing care gaps and enabling earlier detection and prevention, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing.

“Leveraging the Personal Health Pathways programme members are rewarded for regularly checking in on their mental health, allowing each member to monitor their mental health baseline. For those diagnosed or at-risk of a mental health condition, regular screening assists them and their treating mental healthcare professional with symptom severity monitoring, treatment plan adjustments and clinical management,” says Nematswerani.

The Sleep Factor: How sleep quality and quantity shape mental health

Discovery’s newly released ‘Sleep Factor’ White Paper is based on 47 million sleep records from over 105,000 members, and provides compelling evidence that sleep health is one of the strongest predictors of mental-health outcomes - as powerful as diet and exercise.

The study found that members who sleep less than six hours per night have a 1.2-times higher likelihood of moderate-to-severe depression symptoms compared to those sleeping seven to eight hours. Those with irregular sleep patterns - sleeping outside a two-hour window of their usual schedule - face 22% higher mortality and significantly greater risk of mood disturbance. Encouragingly, improving both sleep duration and regularity can reduce mortality risk by 24% and improve mental-health scores within months.

Also, sufficient REM sleep – the restorative stage vital for emotional balance – is linked to lower anxiety and depression, and better focus and resilience.

Nematswerani explains: “Our data shows that even small improvements in sleep quality and regularity can make a measurable difference to mood, cognition and overall health. In 2026, we’re translating these insights into targeted, evidence-based initiatives designed to help every member sleep and live better.”

Looking ahead: “Mental health needs are rising – but so too is our ability to respond effectively”

“At Discovery Health, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing awareness, improving access to care, and delivering personalised, evidence-based support for our members,” concludes Nematswerani. “The message from our data is one of both realism and hope. Yes, mental health needs are rising - but so too is our ability to respond effectively. By using data responsibly, partnering with healthcare professionals, and empowering our members with evidence-based tools, we can drive better outcomes at scale.”

Ends/.

Notes to editors: More info about the research that has informed this media release:

The data reported on in this media release stems from an analysis conducted by Discovery Health’s Katherine Tregoning (Actuary), Claudia Pastellides (Actuary), Cassi Rubin (Head: Mental Health Risk), Lara Wayburne (Chief Health Intelligence Actuary) and Jane Ball (Chief Specialist Population Health Management).

Read the three-part report on our Discovery Health Insights Hub:

• Part 1: Prevalence and incidence trends and their relationship with chronic diseases.
• Part 2: Demographic patterns across gender, age and family structure.
• Part 3: Severity, self-harm trends and outcomes from Discovery Health’s mental-health programmes.