Mental health and wellbeing of youth in our communities

Being a teenager can sometimes feel like a roller coaster. It’s important to know the difference between mental health issues and life’s flat spots – and when to get support or treatment early.

Checking on our mental wellbeing is helpful during times of changes or challenges. Having good mental health allows us to:

• Develop a sense of who we are including our identities, values and beliefs;
• Cope with strong emotions;
• Work out how to get on with the people around us;
• Get by at school, work and home;
• Have respect for ourselves and others;
• Express what we’re thinking and how we’re feeling; and
• Accept responsibility for our own thoughts and actions.

Depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts may be caused by a combination of factors, including:

• Stressful events like the break-up of parents, or loss of a loved one;
• A family history of depression;
• Relationship break-ups or problems with friends;
• Learning difficulties; or
• Social isolation such as having no friends or whānau that you feel connected to.

What you can do if you are stuck feeling bad

There are heaps of ways you can start tackling feeling bad, overwhelmed or just plain sad. A lot of them are pretty easy too, like getting some fresh air and sleeping better.

• Find out more about the Five Ways to Wellbeing (Mental Health Foundation).
• Explore ways to help yourself (The LowDown).

It’s OK to ask for help – especially before your stress or anxiety escalates into something more serious.

Talk to someone you trust like a family member, your doctor or school counsellor.

You can also ask questions or chat anonymously about your feelings with one of many support services just for young people.

Downloads

• Youth’19: Safety and Violence (University of Auckland 2021).
• East Asian, South Asian, Chinese and Indian Students in Aotearoa: A Youth19 Report (University of Auckland 2021).
• Negotiating Multiple Identities: Intersecting Identities among Māori, Pacific, Rainbow and Disabled Young People (University of Auckland 2021).
• What Makes a Good Life for Tamariki and Rangatahi Māori? (Office of the Children’s Commissioner 2021).
• Sexual attraction and substance use: Findings from the Youth Insights Survey 2016-2018 (Health Promotion Agency 2021).
• Positive Youth Development in Aotearoa (Wayne Francis Charitable Trust 2020).

• Life in lockdown: Children and young people’s views on the nationwide COVID-19 level 3 and 4 lockdown between March and May 2020 (Office of the Children’s Commissioner 2020).
• Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey Initial Findings: Hauora Hinengaro/ Emotional and Mental Health (University of Auckland 2020).
• Youth19: Youth Voice Brief (University of Auckland 2020).
• COVID-19 Youth Recovery Plan 2020-2022: Rapid Evidence and Policy Brief (Health Promotion Agency 2020).
• Health and wellbeing of under-15 year olds in Aotearoa 2018 (NZ Child and Youth Epidemiology Service) – region-specific reports also available.
• Guidelines for supporting young people with stress, anxiety and/or depression (Ministry of Social Development 2015).

• The Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in Christchurch: Findings from the Youth’12 national youth health and wellbeing survey (University of Auckland 2013).
• Youth Mental Health: Resources Guidelines (Youthline/ Ministry for Social Development 2013).
• Conduct Problems: Effective Programmes for Adolescents (Ministry for Social Development 2013).
• Depression in Young People (bpac 2010).
• Te Raukura: Mental health and alcohol and other drugs: Improving outcomes for children and youth (Ministry of Health 2007).

Documents

Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.

• Coping with Exams.
• Having suicidal thoughts and finding a way back (Mental Health Foundation).

Links

• Whāraurau – formerly The Werry Centre.
• Depression: There is a way through it.
• The Lowdown.
• Skylight.
• Mental Health Foundation.
• Youth BeyondBlue (Australia).
• Reach Out (Australia).
• Rainbow Youth.
• Michael Ungar.
• Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK).

Common Ground: An innovative project to help young people

Common Ground aimed to give parents, families, whānau and friends of young people easy access to information to help support young people to:

• manage hard times;
• enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing; and
• get the right kind of help when they need it.

Tools and support is available for whānau from the Common Ground website.

Visit the Common Ground website for more information.

SPARX e-therapy for young people

SPARX is an online game-style tool to help young people develop skills to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed.

This self-help e-therapy tool teaches young people key skills needed to help combat depression and anxiety.

The SPARX website also offers a mood quiz to help young people identify depression and gives information on where to get help.

Phone support from professional counsellors is available to SPARX users on 0508 4 SPARX.