CASE STUDY
Supporting the mental health of our people and communities
Downer understands how important it is to support the mental health of our people.
We have implemented a range of initiatives in recent years to change the conversation around mental health and to empower our people with strategies to not only support their own mental health and wellbeing, but to also support their friends, families and colleagues.
In May 2021, we took our commitment to mental health a step further, to help support our communities as well by becoming Beyond Blue’s Major Partner.
“This partnership will help Downer deepen its support for our people and also the community which has, during the COVID-19 pandemic, seen people reach out to Beyond Blue in record numbers,” Downer Group CEO, Grant Fenn, said.
“This initiative is an important part of Downer’s philanthropic approach to supporting the communities in which we operate, and to our Zero Harm philosophy.”
In 2021 Downer also matched donations from the public for Beyond Blue’s national fundraising campaign, up to a total of $250,000.
“This support will ensure that over 14,500 people will get access to support as they navigate pivotable times in their mental health,” Grant said.
Beyond Blue CEO, Georgie Harman, said she was thrilled to be partnering with Downer to help achieve its vision of everyone in Australia achieving their best possible mental health.
“Beyond Blue has been serving the community in Australia for 21 years. Over this time, Beyond Blue has given a voice to those experiencing anxiety and depression, opened up conversations about topics that were once seen as off-limits and been a vital support to people in their time of need,” Georgie said.
“The events of the last 15 months and ongoing ripple effects of the Coronavirus pandemic have seen people reach out to Beyond Blue for support in record numbers. During 2020 there was a 43 per cent increase in calls to the Beyond Blue Support Services compared to the same time in 2019. We expect that there will be more demand for mental health support as the health, social and economic consequences of COVID-19 continue to play out.
“With the vital support of partners like Downer, Beyond Blue can be there to answer every call, now and in the future.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Downer to help achieve our vision of everyone in Australia achieving their best possible mental health.”
This initiative demonstrates Downer’s contribution to achieve the following Sustainable Development Goal: #17 Partnerships for the goals.
