The Z Zurich Foundation has made a two-year support pledge for Mitey, an education approach that seeks to improve the mental health and wellbeing of primary and high school students in New Zealand.
The global insurer’s charity arm will run the local grant program in cooperation with Sir John Kirwan Foundation and Zurich New Zealand.
According to Zurich, Mitey takes a school-wide approach to mental health education, working with teachers, students and communities the achieve a common goal of mentally thriving children.
The move reflects Zurich Australia and New Zealand’s strengthened commitment to supporting mental wellbeing in the community by raising awareness as well as supporting practical and positive behavioural change, the company said.
“With an estimated one in seven adolescents aged between 10 and 19 living with a diagnosed mental illness globally, supporting Mitey in New Zealand is one of many important ways that Zurich is living out its commitment to mental wellbeing in the community,” said Justin Delaney, CEO of Zurich Australia and New Zealand.
Mitey is being rolled out to schools in Auckland and later across the rest of the country. It aims to reach thousands of students and positively impact the lives of tens of thousands of people, including teachers, students and their families.
Mitey’s launch means that the global insurer is now supporting mental health initiatives on both sides of the Tasman Sea. In Australia, Zurich Insurance and the Z Zurich Foundation support three mental wellbeing programs for youth: Tackle Your Feelings, a national program delivering mental health training at community AFL clubs across Australia; The Raise Foundation, a youth mentoring organisation; and Beyond Empathy, an arts organisation that uses its influence to change and enrich the lives of indigenous youth facing recurring hardships.
“We have a mission to be a champion of mental health and wellbeing in the community,” said Linda Griffin, Zurich Financial Services Australia head of brand, marketing and corporate affairs. “Through initiatives like Mitey in New Zealand and Tackle your Feelings in Australia, we are working towards creating a world where every young person is supported to achieve positive mental wellbeing.”
