Southland Business Chamber chief executive Sheree Carey said many business owners and their employees were feeling huge pressure in recent years which was consequently affecting their mental health.
"It has been a fact that — even before Covid, but especially during Covid — it has put huge pressure on all business owners and managers across the region.
"But there was a feeling there was nowhere accessible for people to go," she said.
With this in mind, the chamber is launching First Steps NZ — an online space with a range of resources, video content, podcasts and tools to help make sense of challenging situations, reduce pressure, and make meaningful change towards a fulfilling and balanced life.
In addition to self-directed resources, it also provided access to confidential support from approved professional wellbeing providers.
"You can go there as a boss or as an employee, from counselling to yoga. It a tool to centralise all resources."
While there were about 30 Southland providers, there was also a range of professionals from across the country to give support.
"As everything is online, people can choose to do maybe their counselling with someone from Auckland as they feel more comfortable to be someone from outside the region that would have no connection to their workplace."
She was excited with the opportunity as the initiative had been a success in Auckland.
Since the Auckland Business Chamber launched the same programme up north more than six months ago, more than 75,000 self-help resources had been downloaded, 71,000 people had visited the site, 1300 emergency helpline calls were managed, 550 funding applications for specialist help were approved, and 394 wellbeing professionals and 59 organisations were brought on board.
"We believe that this self-directed platform will take you from being under pressure to being under control."
