The funding offered by MLC will provide ongoing support for SuperFriend’s initiatives to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of ‘all profit to member’ superannuation funds’ members, employers and staff.
NAB’s general manager of client management, corporate and institutional wealth, and MLC Community Foundation chair, Lara Bourguignon, said mental health is an important issue for the industry and needs to be addressed by industry leaders, employers and employees alike.
“We know that 1 in 5 Australians are affected by some form of mental disorder every year, and many more people support friends or family members who are facing mental health issues,” Ms Bourguignon said.
“The workplace has a big impact on the way that people cope with mental health and this is why we are great supporters of SuperFriend’s work.
“We see an important role for an organisation helping employers to create a work environment that fosters positive mental health, as well as providing resources and assistance to achieve that,” she said.
SuperFriend chief executive Margo Lydon emphasised the importance of funding to driving the initiative forward.
“We see the funding commitments from our supporters as recognition that SuperFriend is having an impact on improving mental health,” she said.
“We rely on the support of industry partners to do this effectively, and MLC’s commitment will make a genuine, positive difference to mental health in our workplaces.”
Over the next five years, SuperFriend will look to expand the number of mental health and wellbeing programs being delivered into workplaces, a statement from the organisation said.
