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Published: 30 April, 2026

Zealand Health Survey found 1 in 5 of 15–24-year-olds experienced high to very high psychological distress. Primary and specialist mental health and addiction services cannot meet need at this scale.  “We know that without easy-to-access support, early distress can lead to long lasting negative

Published: January 2026

, young people are receiving fewer mental health medications. Our last year of reporting shows a decrease of young people being admitted to adult in-patient mental health services. There are increasing options for youth mental health services, such as telehealth, services provided through the Access and

Published: 29 May, 2025

New analysis shows a 10.5% reduction in the number of people accessing addiction treatment services over the last five years raising concerns about whether there is sufficient capacity to respond to an increase in demand.  “Recent reports show drug use has increased, yet over the past five

Published: January 2026

Wellbeing System Leadership and Insights Dr Ella Cullen is the Director Wellbeing System Leadership and Insights, with a focus on cross-government system leadership, monitoring, and advocacy to address determinants of improved individual and whānau mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Ella will lead

Published: 17 May, 2023

experienced admissions to adult facilities. “In the last year alone, 159 young people aged 12-17 years were admitted to adult mental health inpatient services – this is one quarter of young people who were admitted for inpatient mental health care. This is unacceptable. It needs to be zero. Adult and

Published: 18 February, 2025

Data released today by Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission shows that fewer people accessed specialist mental health and addiction services in the year from July 2023 to June 2024 than in previous years. Recently available data shows a decrease of over 3,000 fewer people than

Published: 31 May, 2023

to experience long waiting times to access specialist services. Our young people deserve better,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Board Chair Hayden Wano. “The workforce has grown for specialist adult mental health and addiction services over the last five years, but workforce vacancies have doubled. We want

Published: 24 November, 2022

wellbeing, 32% of 15-year-olds did not feel like they belonged in school and 17% of people reported experiencing discrimination in the last year. “The latest report from the Treasury also points out that the total growth in mental distress across all people in Aotearoa has been borne mainly by young

Published: January 2026

  Māori, who make up 17% of the population and have higher rates of mental distress than other population groups, have been advocating for equitable funding for Kaupapa Māori services for decades.   What needs to change? We want to see: Equitable investment in Kaupapa Māori services

Published: 25 March, 2026

distress becomes overwhelming. “We know that timely care is critical as the effects of mental distress can follow them through their lives, sometimes causing devastating effects for them and their whānau down the track. “Our current data shows that across Aotearoa New Zealand, those under the age of 18