Mental Health, one of those things that people are often afraid to speak about and many people suffer in silence.

With an estimated 1 in 5 people suffering with a mental health problem at some point in their lives, this can be a significant burden on our society.

Insurance company disability statistics suggest that mental health is behind around 40% of new disability claims and around 80% of long-term ongoing disability claims.

This is an area we need to shine a light on to find ways to assist people to work through it. We have seen John Kirwan and a number of other high profile people in the media in the past, but it needs constant reminding, as the message does not always get through.

Early next year one of our insurers, Partners Life, is getting behind this excellent cause to help raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand through their sponsorship of the Partners Life Dual and Mal Law’s High Five-0 Challenge.

Mal’s audacious challenge is to run 50 peaks and 50 off road marathons in 50 days culminating in the Partners Life Dual to finish. Mal is a determined sort of guy, having done a few audacious things in the past, though this is his biggest to date. 

Mal’s target is to raise $250,000 for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Simon Fisher, one of the senior managers at Partners Life, is joining Mal to run 5 of the legs along the way. Having run along side Mal in the past, he is a regular to Mal’s challenges. If you wish to support the cause and donate to the mental Health Foundation you can do so here by sponsoring Simon.

If you want to check out these events, you can do that here, Partners Life Dual or Mal’s High Five-0 Challenge.