The Vodafone NZ Foundation today announced their largest ever charitable grant of $700,000. The grant, along with significant wrap-around support, will enable Zeal to scale their programme supporting young people disclosing mental health crises online.

The grant will be used to scale up Zeal’s Online Crisis Intervention programme which will allow them to save more lives.

This is part of the Vodafone Foundation’s commitment to halving the number of excluded and disadvantaged youth by 2027.

Head of the Vodafone NZ Foundation, Lani Evans, says this partnership is even more important at a time when the latest mental health research reveals shocking statistics for Kiwi youth.

“New Zealand’s suicide rate is the worst in the developed world, with the highest number of suicides in the 20-24 year old group [1]. It’s absolutely tragic, and we want to do everything we can to help our rangatahi.

“The latest research shows one in four young people are online almost constantly and often see others post about mental health crises online. In 2016, we began a partnership with Zeal to test an innovative idea that provides support to young people in crisis in a format that is relevant to them. Since the inception of this idea, we’ve provided Zeal with financial support, as well as technical expertise and volunteer time,” said Lani.

Zeal’s solution, which is called Online Crisis Intervention, reaches out to young people in crisis online and provides meaningful, interpersonal support, helping them get to a better place and in some occasions has even saved lives. The partnership also plays an important role in the Vodafone Foundation’s 10 year strategy to use technology to create better outcomes for rangatahi and save lives through innovative, scalable solutions.

General Manager of Zeal and Director of Online Crisis Intervention, Elliot Taylor, explains how the grant will help save more lives.

“The Online Crisis Intervention programme is a global first. Our vision is to get help to every young person in crisis online. Thanks to the Vodafone Foundation’s support, we have the opportunity to turn this dream into a reality and to ensure all young people receive support when and where they need it.

“Our team of volunteers is trained to respond to young people and offer care and support. They are currently live 21 hours a week and have 8 conversations a day. Our aspiration is to provide a 24 hour service and respond to all young people within 5 minutes,” Elliot said.

The team at Zeal and the Vodafone Foundation share the vision to see more young people in New Zealand living lives they value.

The Vodafone Foundation goes beyond funding. It leverages Vodafone’s technology, power, and business support and will also use its global reach to help spread awareness of this programme to positively impact the lives of more young people around the world.

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Notes to editors:

• [1] Statistics from Ministry of Justice
• Where to get help:

• 1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
• Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
• Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
• Samaritans – 0800 726 666
• Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
• What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.
• Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age. Open 24/7.
• thelowdown.co.nz – or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626
• Anxiety New Zealand - 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
• Supporting Families in Mental Illness - 0800 732 825

About The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation:

The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation has invested more than $27million in New Zealand communities and wants to ensure all New Zealanders have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. For more information please visit: https://foundation.vodafone.co.nz/

About Zeal:

Zeal is a national youth organisation that creates communities of belonging and creativity, supporting young people to find and shape a healthy identity and to know their innate worth. For more information, visit http://www.zeal.nz