Why we exist
Sir John Kirwan established the Foundation to help address New Zealand's youth suicide statistics. Ours are among the highest in the OECD.
Early in the research phase, one thing became clear. The Foundation's response needed to focus on primary prevention - starting in a child's first years at school. Researchers and clinicians were unequivocal: if we don't tackle mental health early, we risk failing the next generation at the very start of their lives.
So that's where we work. Primary and intermediate schools, with children in Years 1 to 8, before the patterns set.
"I established the Sir John Kirwan Foundation to help address the worrying youth suicide statistics in New Zealand. Having been at the forefront of mental health advocacy and driven by my personal experience of depression and anxiety, it is my dream to help turn our country's suicide figures around."
- Sir John Kirwan
Learning about mental health is as important as learning to read and write.
Positive mental health is not extracurricular. It can be taught within the New Zealand Curriculum.
The stigma surrounding mental health needs to go.
Children should be able to recognise the key signs, and feel comfortable seeking support when they need it.
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