Much of the world has been living under lockdown over the past few years, and collective mental health has been severely impacted. One Australian firm is looking to raise awareness and funds to address the issue with a new Down Under themed non-fungible token series, according to a press release shared with Forkast.News.
Fast facts
- NFT AussieMates has announced a partnership with mental health non-profit LIVIN to release a collection of 10,00 unique kangaroo NFTs inspired by elements of Australian culture, with the aim to build a supportive community through access education and health. After going on sale on Jan. 7, 2022, AussieMates owners — known as Down Under Club members — will have access to LIVIN’s virtual health workshops, resources and early prevention and intervention initiatives, which are all endorsed by LIVIN’s qualified psychologist.
- This is part of the LIVINWell program, which is based on the mantra: “It Ain’t Weak to Speak,” which breaks down stigma and encourages self-efficacy and help seeking.
- “We believe in the community more than anything. Being able to support LIVIN with its incredible work to de-stigmatize mental health is a tremendous privilege. This is the spirit which AussieMates embodies,” said AussieMates Cofounder Bianca Musico. “We don’t want anyone to get left behind. For us our AussieMates ‘roos are mental health personified. They’re the essence of balance, strength, health and fun. We love how kangaroos can only move forward and that’s what we want for our community.”
- As many Australians lived strict lockdown conditions — including Melbourne, which as of October holds the world record for most days spent in lockdown, at 262 — the impacts on people’s mental health are being felt acutely. An OECD report stated that since March 2020 the “prevalence of anxiety and depression increased and in some countries even doubled. Periods when the highest rates of mental distress were reported correlated with periods of intensifying COVID‑19 deaths and strict confinement measures.”
- Speaking to the efficacy of LIVIN, the social impact report by Ernst and Young found that 79% of participants said the program had helped them make positive changes to their well-being, while 82% of those who applied the program’s methods to someone else felt it had a positive impact on that person.