Southern Cross, together with Sir Ashley Bloomfield and the Pause Breathe Smile programme, has introduced a new free mindfulness practice to support mental wellbeing across New Zealand.
This initiative, which is accessible through the Pause Breathe Smile app and website, seeks to address growing concerns around mental health, particularly in children.
This launch follows Southern Cross’s latest Healthy Futures survey, which revealed that 60% of parents are concerned about their children’s ability to handle stress and life pressures.
Bloomfield, who is the mind health ambassador for Pause Breathe Smile, highlighted the benefits of mindfulness for building resilience, noting that practising mindfulness helps people understand and maintain their emotional, mental, and physical boundaries.
“Practising mindfulness helps people to be resilient, and resilient people know what their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual boundaries are, and take active steps to protect these,” he said.
To mark Mindfulness Day on Sept. 12, Bloomfield introduced a new mindfulness practice, Kindness Across the Motu, which is available through the Pause Breathe Smile app.
Pause Breathe Smile is a mindfulness programme that provides support for tamariki aged five to 12 years old. Funded entirely by Southern Cross Healthcare, it is delivered in schools by teachers across the country.
According to Bloomfield, the programme offers positive benefits for not only children but also their families and the wider community.
“I am passionate about Pause Breathe Smile, a homegrown New Zealand programme for our tamariki which has been shown through research to drive more positive behaviours and to help children regulate emotions, pay attention, and build positive relationships,” he said.
Since partnering with Southern Cross in 2020, the programme has reached more than 150,000 students across 500 schools.
Co-creator of Pause Breathe Smile, Grant Rix, said that the programme is offered free to all schools in New Zealand and has helped students build skills to cope with life’s challenges. He also noted the programme’s positive impact on the wellbeing of teachers.
“Thanks to the support of Southern Cross Healthcare, Pause Breathe Smile is available to kura, primary, or intermediate schools, and they can take part for free in this proven mindfulness programme,” he said.
Chris White, CEO of Southern Cross Healthcare, stressed the company’s support for mental health initiatives.
“Our purpose at Southern Cross is to help New Zealanders access more healthier years, and mind health is a key component of overall health,” he said.
At the same time, the Healthy Futures Report 2024 from Southern Cross highlighted broader concerns regarding healthcare access.
The report, which gathered data from over 7,000 respondents through a partnership with Kantar, revealed that 84% of New Zealanders are concerned about the availability of affordable, high-quality healthcare. This marks a 6% increase from 2022, signalling growing strain on the healthcare system.
Nick Astwick, CEO of Southern Cross Health Society, noted that the lingering effects of COVID-19 are still impacting the health of many New Zealanders.
According to the report, two-thirds of respondents indicated that the pandemic has had long-term consequences on their physical and mental health.
Astwick added that rising demand for healthcare and increasing costs are putting significant pressure on the system. Southern Cross members’ daily claims have risen to NZ$6 million, compared to NZ$5.2 million in the previous year.
The report also identified barriers to accessing medical care beyond financial concerns, such as long wait times and a shortage of healthcare professionals. Telehealth services, like CareHQ, have emerged as alternatives to traditional healthcare and have gained traction as a way to alleviate pressure on in-person services.
Astwick said these models could be key in helping improve access to healthcare while reducing strain on the healthcare system.
Additionally, the report highlighted concerns around the cost of living, which remains the top issue for 91% of respondents.
Dr Stephen Child, chief medical officer at Southern Cross Health Society, emphasised the negative impact financial pressures are having on the mental and physical health of New Zealanders, including an increase in sleep disturbances and dissatisfaction with work-life balance.
“Financial insecurities have impacted New Zealander’s health and wellbeing in many ways. More people lost sleep in 2024 than in previous years,” Child said.
However, Child also noted that many are taking proactive steps to manage their mental health by engaging in outdoor activities and nurturing personal relationships.
