Medibank and Mental Health

Magda Szubanski and Medibank launch mental health initiative amid cancer diagnosis

Magda Szubanski, the well-known Australian actress and comedian, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. Despite this personal challenge, Szubanski has been actively involved in a nationwide mental health initiative in collaboration with Medibank over the past three months.

The initiative, which aims to foster meaningful conversations about mental health among Australians, includes the launch of the Medibank Family Roast. This card game is designed to facilitate discussions on mental health topics and was developed with input from leading mental health experts in Australia.

The campaign was introduced with a 60-second television advertisement featuring Szubanski's character Sharon Strzelecki, alongside her fictional children, Tim and Pam. This advertisement serves as a central piece of the initiative, aiming to engage audiences across the nation.

Medibank has pledged $50 million towards mental health initiatives over the next five years, underscoring its commitment to this cause. The initiative is supported by a range of creative and media partners, including Colenso BBDO, production company Good Oil, director Dave Wood, media agency Carat Melbourne, PR agency Eleven, social media agency Tiny Disco, and media partners NewsCorp and Mamamia.

Szubanski expressed her dedication to the cause, stating, "Supporting the mental wellbeing of Australians has always been close to my heart—whether through making people laugh, or through raising awareness and funds for trauma. This is a fantastic initiative, and we hope it gives everyday Aussies some practical tools to better understand mental health and connect more meaningfully with one another."

Dr Andrew Wilson, Medibank's Chief Medical Officer and Szubanski's treating psychiatrist, highlighted the importance of the initiative, saying, "Mental health touches every family and every community and is at the heart of our national wellbeing. Magda has been an incredible partner to work with as we created something we hope can facilitate more meaningful conversations among Australian families of all kinds, whether biological, chosen or adopted. In the face of Magda's cancer diagnosis, she is determined this important work continues."

The Medibank Family Roast card game and accompanying campaign represent a significant effort to address mental health issues in Australia.

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