A brighter future for youth mental health is within reach. A 2024 framework offers an actionable roadmap for transformation in Aotearoa New Zealand, outlining six key areas where coordinated action can make a real difference — from embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and strengthening social supports, to ensuring culturally safe services and amplifying youth voices. By addressing root causes and centering equity for Māori, minoritized, and marginalized young people, this approach charts a hopeful course toward systemic change that can help all young people thrive.
BAF has identified that young people’s mental health is being damaged by the constant and hyper-processed information being fed through social media and as a consequence of increasing climate anxiety. Work to mitigate these root causes is needed in addition to funding support for the consequences of this increasing anxiety.
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