ANZ launches adviser wellness portal

The new portal, created for ANZ by mental health firm Mindstar, will provide advisers with access to tools, information and education resources relating to mental health and wellbeing, ANZ said in a statement.

ANZ Wealth head of sales Don Sillar said advisers are in “a powerful position” to assist their clients handling mental health and wellbeing issues.

“Advisers are on the frontline when it comes to listening and responding to highly personal and confidential information about their clients. However, a recent poll commissioned by ANZ revealed that on average, advisers ranked their knowledge of mental health issues and wellness at six out of 10,” Mr Sillar said.

“Our new health and wellness portal will equip advisers with resources to better understand their own health and wellbeing, as well as how to talk about such issues with their clients – and importantly, where to get help.”

ANZ noted that “almost half of Australia’s population” will experience some form of mental illness during their life, costing the economy $28.6 billion annually.