Depression effects young people in vast numbers in New Zealand, so thelowdown.co.nz has been launched as an interactive website created to help young people understand, deal with and recover from depression.

Thelowdown.co.nz has taken a fresh approach to helping young Kiwis with the launch of its first ever interactive voice response (IVR) mobile campaign, featuring a popular New Zealand musician.

The IVR campaign is a free auto-call service which offers youth the chance to get the lowdown on depression by simply texting in to receive an uplifting message, or ‘shoutout’, from lead singer of Nesian Mystik,  Awa Reeder.

Awa is excited to be involved in the project, which he says is an innovative way to engage with youth.

 “It's about helping our whanau and letting them know that there is support, that they are not alone and they are able to get free and confidential advice.”

The IVR mobile campaign adds a new element to thelowdown.co.nz’s strong offering of online digital support services including text, webcam support sessions, email and a moderated message board for peer to peer communications.

The site features a number of high profile Kiwi role-models, who youth can relate to, talking about experiences with depression that they, or friends and family, have had and how they managed this. The contributions from musicians, sports people, and TV and radio celebrities help remove the stigma around depression and encourage young people to get help.

The Lowdown “shout out” is available for a limited time by free-texting ‘Awa’ to 3166. 

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