COVID-19 response award for #CatchYourself campaign

Le Va was honoured to receive a COVID-19 Response Recognition Award in June from Prime Minister Chris Hipkins for its ACC-funded #CatchYourself initiative.

During the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 in Aotearoa New Zealand, Le Va led an innovative online campaign to help people deal with the impacts of isolation.

Le Va’s leadership recognised that times of great stress and uncertainty, combined with the unprecedented physical isolation caused by the pandemic, could lead to a rise in mental distress, domestic violence, and longer-term social issues for families and communities.

Informed by international evidence and research, the Le Va team developed culturally appropriate digital resources and tools to help people manage their frustrations and maintain respectful relationships within their ‘bubbles’.

Promoted on social media channels with the taglines ‘Respect your bubble’ and ‘Trouble in your bubble?’, the #CatchYourself resources were designed to address a range of potential stressors. These included job insecurity and loss, financial pressures, scarcity of food or other supplies, and increased time spent at home.

The videos and factsheets used an education-based approach to provide information to help families manage the stresses of lockdowns and then transition smoothly back to school and work when restrictions were lifted.

Le Va’s #CatchYourself resources have now been revised to reflect the impacts of crisis events outside of COVID-19, such as the extreme weather events of 2023 and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

You can explore the #CatchYourself suite of practical resources and information on our website: #CatchYourself