A new range of stylish charity street-wear t-shirts launched by the Mental Health Foundation have gone down a tee with the bro’Town crew, who were keen to lend a hand of support to the cause.

The charity T-shirts launched this week – Mental Health Awareness Week – have been designed in collaboration with New Zealand label ‘The H Initiative’ as a way to raise awareness of mental illness throughout the country.

Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, was thrilled with the support of the bro’Town crew on this campaign. “We are especially grateful to the cast of bro’Town for supporting Mental Health Awareness Week, giving their time freely and lending their faces to the campaign for the second year in a row. This kind of high-profile support is invaluable in helping us to raise awareness of mental health issues, and especially in helping us to connect with people who we may not otherwise reach,” she said.

This year the limited edition collection features five designs communicating the message ‘Normal Is Over-rated’, showcasing the work of New Zealand and international design talent Joel Cocks, Andrew Harbott, Aaron Hogg, Yeoh Guan Hong and Brooke Baker.

bro’Town writer and performer Oscar Kightley believes that Mental Health is a very important issue and something that we should all be aware of, “I think it’s up to everyone in society to try and help in whatever way possible, whether it’s to be understanding to someone who is suffering or whether it’s to not judge people who are suffering.”

“We should all be looking after and maintaining our mental health. I think your mental health is as important as your physical and spiritual health. It’s all connected,” he said.

Men’s, women’s and infant styles will be available in different designs and limited quantities, with a portion of all sales of the Mental Health Awareness Week t-shirt collection going to the Mental Health Foundation, for its ongoing work in raising mental health awareness and countering stigma and discrimination against people who experience mental illness.

The range will be available for sale from JET urban couture stores in Auckland, selected retail stores nationwide and online from thehinitiative’s website from Saturday 4 October 2008.

For stockist information or to shop online, visit www.thehinitiative.co.nz.