WELLINGTON, 18 SEPT – The mental health of children and young people in New Zealand (NZ) is deteriorating, with Maori and young people living in poverty bearing the highest burden prompting calls for action to promote resilience, according to a study which published today.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for NZ teenagers and the country’s youth suicide rate is among the highest in the developed world, study authors say.
The study also shows that more than one in five children aged 15 to 24 will experience high psychological stress in 2022 and 2023.
This underlines how young people need to be more prepared to face the many pressures on them while the role of parents, schools, communities and policy makers should also help these young people cope.
Symptoms of depression among secondary students increased from 13 percent in 2012 to 23 percent in 2019, while the proportion of students who met the positive lifestyle criteria also decreased from 76 percent to 69 percent, the study showed.
There is a huge need to build resilience in children, from early childhood education through to secondary school, to ensure they can weather adversity safely, say researchers from the Center for an Informed Future at the University of Auckland, a body which addressing child development.
Researchers Felicia Low and Seungyeon Kim urge policymakers to support programs that build resilience, including cognitive function, problem-solving strategies, communication, interpersonal skills and self-regulation, adding that having stable relationships and support from caregivers and peers is also important.
There are a variety of causes for the decline in adolescent mental health, including exposure to stress during infancy and childhood, the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence, complex family situations or relationships with peers and even discrimination, the authors said. – Xinhua
Caption: Freepik picture
