Young people facing the end of a romantic relationship can access qualified help from dedicated specialists. This has been reported by CNN with a link to Radio New Zealand.
On March 22, New Zealand introduced a social initiative designed to support youths as they recover from parting ways with someone they cared about. The program, dubbed “Love Better,” allocates four million New Zealand dollars, equivalent to about 6.4 million, to fund its rollout. Over the next three years, activists and service providers connected to the effort will receive payments through the Ministry of Social Development.
The aim behind the plan is to aid young people in processing heartbreak and to reduce the negative impact that early relationship experiences can have on long-term well-being.
The campaign emerged from feedback gathered from young New Zealanders who, according to government representatives, identified breakups and first loves as a top concern for their generation. In a study, more than 1,200 teenagers indicated they needed help to cope with the pain associated with early intimacy and subsequent separation.
The campaign’s promotional video opens with the line breakups suck and features scenes where teens discuss the importance of blocking an ex to move forward from past relationships.
Already in place is a dedicated helpline for young people, accessible by phone and online, operated under the leadership of Youthline in the country. This organization focuses on supporting youths aged 12 to 24. A portion of the Love Better funds will be directed to Youthline as part of the campaign’s broader support network.
Love Better plans to leverage social media actively to help the community cope with the consequences of separation. The government states that the initiative is part of a broader commitment to address domestic violence and sexual violence by channeling resources into preventive and supportive programs.
Data from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice indicates that police received almost 10,000 reports of sexual assault in 2020, and nearly half of rape survivors were under the age of 18 at the time they reported the crime.
Earlier reporting noted that some European activists have expressed concerns about rising smuggling and sexual exploitation of refugees from Ukraine, highlighting a broader regional challenge that intersects with youth safety and well-being.