In New Zealand, there are currently various forms of media being used to spread the awareness of Depression such as television and radio advertisements in addition to easily accessible websites and health promotional campaigns.
The ‘Like Minds’ programme is a campaign which promotes the anti-stigmatisation of mental illness. Like Minds, Like Mine National Plan 2014-2019 aspires to greatly reduce the stigmatisation and discrimination that mental health sufferers endure (Ministry of Health & Health Promotion Agency, 2014). John Kirwan, known as a former All Black Rugby player, first got involved with the former ‘Like Minds’ campaign which started in the year 2000, which led him to star in TV advertisements also aimed to diminish stigmatisation associated with Depression (Quilliam. R., 2007). The ongoing success of these advertisements could be attributed to the celebrity status of John Kirwan which assisted in raising awareness of a mental health disorder that he personally suffered from.
The TV advertisements that involve John Kirwan promote the website Depression.org.nz (Health Promotion
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Depression comes in various forms such as mild to severe and post-natal depression and can happen within such a wide age bracket. Two approaches would need be taken with the advertising of ‘Harmony’, the first to spread awareness of how serious the issue of depression is before it gets out of control and the second to promote the solution ‘Harmony’. Role models would be selected to showcase different ages and lifestyles then recruited as advocates to star in a series of TV and Radio advertisements. Advertisements would be strategically placed on different TV channels and radio stations at different times with the goal of reaching various age groups and target audiences. These advertisements would also be linked to a website offering more