【】

New Zealand is pledging to help teens cope with heartache. Announced Wednesday, the new government initiative will aim to help young people in the country through their breakups, by "developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt."

The initiative, called Love Better, has been given 6.4 million New Zealand dollars ($4 million) by the country's Ministry of Social Development. The cost will be allocated over three years.

Prime Day deals you can shop right now

Products available for purchase here through affiliate links are selected by our merchandising team. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

• iRobot Roomba Combo i3+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum and Mop—$329.99(List Price $599.99)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet—$178.99(List Price $219.99)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case—$199.00(List Price $249.00)

• Eero 6 Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (Router + 2 Extenders)—$149.99(List Price $199.99)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm, Midnight, S/M, Sports Band)—$299.00(List Price $399.00)

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, associate minister for Social Development and Employment, said 1,200 young New Zealanders surveyed told the government "they need support to deal with early experiences of love and hurt," with breakups being deemed "a common challenge." 68 percent of those surveyed said that breakups led them to face consequences like depression, risky sexual behaviours, violence, jealousy, and stalking.

SEE ALSO:How to survive Valentine's Day when you're heartbroken

The campaign strategy is rooted in fostering safe and equal relationships, helping young people to navigate discourse surrounding relationships and their own expectations. The goal is to support teenagers in identifying and avoiding abuse, ultimately learning how to love better. This approach was developed alongside young people, mental health experts, and government officials.

Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletterBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Thanks for signing up!

"Love Better, which asks young people to 'own the feels,' is a primary prevention campaign that features young people sharing real stories to help their peers who may be going through similar experiences," said Radhakrishnan.

---

Featured Video For You

---

How Tinder and other dating apps use algorithms to find your match — Horny on Main

---

The campaign features real footage of young people telling stories of their breakups, with the content being posted across social media. One video starts off with the words, "Breakups suck." Soon after, videos taken by teens on their phones are shown; one girl says to the camera: "I'm officially deleting my ex from all my socials. I'm moving on."

"This campaign sits alongside work already underway to support young people with healthy boundaries and attitudes to relationships," said Marama Davidson, minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence.

---

Related Stories

---

• New Zealand bans conversion therapy in 'a win for humanity'
• New Zealand is cracking down on cigarettes for future generations
• 'Come to America:' Stephen Colbert reacts to New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's resignation
• New Zealand to offer paid leave after pregnancy loss
• 31 best breakup movies to mend a shattered heart

The Love Better initiative is part of a wider approach to breaking harm within relationships and families. Called Te Aorerekura, the 25-year strategy from the ministry seeks to eliminate violence and strengthen prevention.

"This approach hasn’t been trialled by any government around the world. New Zealand has shameful statistics of family and sexual violence and we need innovative approaches to break the cycle," Radhakrishnan said.

(责任编辑：探索)