Allianz is sponsoring the Arts Centre Melbourne’s pilot program to support mental health and wellbeing in the arts and entertainment industry.

The one-year Arts Wellbeing Collective program was launched on Sunday and will run until November.

“Allianz feels strongly about promoting the importance of nurturing good mental health and we hope our sponsorship will improve much-needed support services for Victorian arts workers,” Chief GM Workers’ Compensation Helen Silver said.

“The public, for good reason, enjoy all the arts have to offer, but behind all of it are some really worrying mental health issues.”

About 25% of performing artists and more than half of “behind the scenes” technical and support crews have attempted or considered suicide, Allianz says, citing industry statistics.