Smiling Mind are one of Future Generation Global's (FGG) Social Impact Partners. Voting is open until the end of September to determine what level of funding Smiling Mind will receive as part of this exciting initiative. If you are a shareholder of FGG or know someone who is, we need your vote and support to help us achieve our mission of creating generational change in mental health.
FGG is Australia’s first international, listed investment company with the dual objectives of providing shareholders with diversified exposure to selected global fund managers and changing the lives of young Australians affected by mental illness.
Recently, Smiling Mind were announced as one of FGG's social impact partners, following an extensive Expressions of Interest process, attracting more than 175 applicants.
The selection of the new impact partners is the culmination of an 18-month review undertaken by FGG exploring why despite a steady increase in government expenditure on mental healthcare services over the past three decades, the rates of mental ill-health, self-harm and suicide among young people continues to rise.
Australia has a strong track record of reducing the financial burden and human cost of many other conditions – from skin cancer and heart disease to strokes and diabetes – by investing in prevention as well as improving treatments. However, prevention and wellbeing have been largely neglected in mental health policy. Combined, Australian governments spend only around 1% of their mental health budgets on prevention.
The FGG Board decided in late 2021 to direct their social investment into mental health focused wellbeing and prevention. FGG's shareholders will determine how much funding each social impact partner receives by voting from 2nd to 30th September 2022. You can learn more about FGG's social impact approach by watching this video.
We are so grateful and excited to be one of FGG's social impact partners and to be in the company of so many inspiring and dedicated organisations working towards the prevention of mental illness and the promotion of mental health.
At Smiling Mind, we believe that equipping younger generations with the skills to nurture their mental health and navigate challenges with curiosity, compassion and resilience, will help turn the current rates of mental illness around.
This impact requires systemic change and shifts in the everyday attitudes and behaviours of Australians, which we can’t achieve without the support of FGG.
For us, partnering with FGG is about more than financial support, it's about engaging like-minded organisations and the people driving them, to help us create generational change. This partnership will enable us to reach more people, build awareness and mobilise action - changing the mental health outcomes of millions of kids and young people.
About Dr Addie Wootten
Dr Addie Wootten’s experience as a Clinical Psychologist combined with comprehensive knowledge of research and e-health bring both academic expertise and commercial acumen to her role as CEO of Smiling Mind. Under Addie’s stewardship, Smiling Mind provides preventative mental health programs that deliver real generational change for Australian families.
A widely published mental health commentator and highly-regarded speaker, Addie’s leadership and passion for empowering people to take a positive and proactive approach to their own mental health has seen the organisation grow beyond a mindfulness app to become an active part of the mental health ecosystem.
