Youth Mental Health
All indicators suggest that parents are actively seeking advice and support from various available sources. The most significant increases are noted in informal channels such as teachers, friends, and whanau. Interestingly, there has been a decline in the number of parents consulting GPs compared to 2016, while the demand for advice from psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists has risen.
It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the mental health of rangitahi, with effects that surpass those observed in older age groups. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of recent data specific to our rohe that captures the changes experienced by tangata in Te Tai Tokerau. The information presented here reflects the trends of parents seeking guidance regarding the mental health of their tamariki and rangitahi, serving as an indicator of growing concerns among caregivers.