I would call on all Australian employers to learn more about what they can do to support their staff and encourage them to seek help when they need it,” Mendoza says. The Superfriend website provides materials targeting early prevention and response to mental illness, and on improving mental health among employers and staff, such as achieving a work-life balance and recognising the early signs of mental illness.

The program’s ultimate goal is to reduce the incidence of suicide and the impact of mental illness on individuals, workplaces, friends and families. The survey also finds that Australians between 40 and 49 years of age are the most unhappy and unhealthy and are less likely to take action to improve their physical and mental state. It finds that 80 per cent of Australians believe that watching television improves their mental health, and that relaxing with a few drinks is also regarded as beneficial.

The website, superfriend.com. au, was developed in partnership with industry super funds, eight group life insurers and mental health organisations Beyond Blue, the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University, Lifeline, the Mental Health Council of Australia, SANE, the Schizophrenia Research Institute, Suicide Prevention Australia and Wesley Mission. Damian Hill, the chief executive of REST Superannuation, is the chairman of Superfriend.