New Zealand’s Latest Health Survey Reveals Alarming Decline In Youth Well-being

The latest New Zealand Health Survey paints a concerning
picture of the mental well-being of young New Zealanders,
revealing a dramatic decline, says mental health advocate
and I Am Hope founder Mike King. The survey, which covers
the period from 2021 to 2023, highlights a significant
increase in anxiety and depression among those aged 15-24
since 2016/17.

Key Findings:

– The percentage
of young people (15-24) reporting mild or greater anxiety or
depression has risen from 32.5% to 52.5%, an increase of 20
percentage points. – The number experiencing moderate or
higher levels of anxiety or depression has nearly doubled
from 14.4% to 28.7%, an increase of 14.3 percentage points.
This means over a quarter of young people face significant
mental health challenges. – The proportion of young people
with unmet mental health service needs has risen by 76% from
9.0% to 15.9% of the 15-24 age group, an increase of 6.9
percentage points. – Major barriers to access include cost,
lack of knowledge about services, and long wait
times.

“These findings mirror the
self-referred issues we see through Gumboot Friday, with
anxiety, depression, and stress being major concerns across
all genders, ages, and ethnicities,” King stated. “This
is a wake-up call. We’re failing our young people. They
need more support now. We must address affordability,
streamline access to services, and improve mental health
education and delivery.”

I Am Hope
Calls for Action:

– Bringing together cross-sector
parties to create a cohesive national strategy aimed at
improving youth mental health. – Fostering collaboration and
sharing best practices to build a stronger support network
for young people facing mental health challenges. –
Addressing affordability concerns by exploring low-cost or
free options, such as Gumboot Friday. – Streamlining access
by simplifying referral processes and raising awareness
about available services. – Investing in preventative
measures, including mental health education in
schools.

“It is time to stop throwing negatives at
the problem and start throwing positives at the solution,”
said King. “For too long, we have been standing on the
side-lines, throwing stones at each other and blaming
everyone else for the problem. It is time for everyone to
look in the mirror, come together for the sake of our kids,
and find a
solution.”

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