logo
Youthline Records 50-Year High In Demand For Its Mental Health Services

Youthline Records 50-Year High In Demand For Its Mental Health Services

Scoop20-05-2025

Press Release – Youthline
Youthline urgently calls on the Government to prioritise youth mental health in the Budget
In March this year alone,Youthline Auckland is reporting a massive 246% spike in access to its youth therapy services, compared to the year prior
The Youthline 24/7 National Helpline is increasingly becoming a crisis response line for young people experiencing significant mental health distress.
The youth mental health organisation Youthline is reporting a 50-year record high in demand for its services. It's an alarming upward trend that shows no signs of abating and is in fact on the rise. The charity is making an urgent appeal to Government to prioritise and invest in youth mental health in the upcoming 2025 Budget.
Shae Ronald, CEO, Youthline, said the UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 19: Fragile Gains – Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World made sobering reading when it was released late last week. UNICEF's latest report highlighted New Zealand as having some of the worst youth mental health outcomes among high-income countries.
'It's just further confirmation of what we are experiencing first-hand on the frontline of the youth mental health crisis. Our own Youthline State of the Generation 2023 reported increased levels of youth mental health distress since COVID 19 and this trend is reflected internationally.
'We strongly urge the Government to focus on young people and invest in helping them get the help they need. That includes prevention, early intervention and crisis support. It requires a collaborative, all community approach, with young people involved in shaping the solutions, at the centre.'
In March this year alone, Youthline Auckland experienced a 246% increase in counselling services being accessed compared to the year prior. In addition, one third of contacts to the national Helpline are now deemed high risk relating to suicide, self-harm or abuse. In the first quarter, Youthline experienced a 20% increase in high-risk contacts with a 24% increase in the number of contacts requiring external intervention, evidence of a further escalation in the severity of contacts being dealt with.
However, Youthline Auckland is budgeted to make a significant loss of over $600,000 in the next year (April 2025 – March 2026).
'The reality is that our services have never been more in demand, and ironically, we're facing a big shortfall in our operational costs to keep delivering our services in the next year. We really appreciate the funding we receive from the Government, our partners and supporters that enables us to be there for young people when they need us most. We urgently need more funding to ensure we can keep being there for young people who are reaching out for help in record numbers,' Ronald concluded.
Liz Hosking-Clement, Clinical Improvement Lead, Youthline, says the 24/7 National Helpline is increasingly becoming a crisis response line.
'We're seeing an unprecedented number of young people reach out for support, our reporting indicates a marked increase in the number of risk-related concerns being disclosed to our services, including risks of harm to self, harm to others, and harm from others,' she said.
In the first quarter of this year, there has been a steep increase in our external referrals for emergency or very high-risk situations, with increasing engagement required with Emergency services, Oranga Tamariki, and mental health crisis teams.
Hosking-Clement said the UNICEF report card around New Zealand's youth mental health was disappointing but unsurprising.
'It just confirms what our front-line clinicians are seeing every day – young people feeling suicidal or self-harming, struggling with bullying, experiencing abuse, and struggling with their mental health. Our health sector has spent a lot of time and resources telling young people to reach out for support when they need it, so we need to make sure Youthline is here to deliver and meet the demand so that we can continue to do the critical mahi when it comes to supporting and keeping our young people and their whānau safe.
'Youthline is advocating for the Government to invest meaningfully in young people as the future of our country. Young people should be able to access support easily, without confusion or delay,' said Hosking-Clement. 'This requires sustained investment in services that young people trust. Services like Youthline that are visible, youth-friendly, and equipped to respond when young people reach out.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Elective Boost Delivers Over 9,500 Additional Procedures So Far
Elective Boost Delivers Over 9,500 Additional Procedures So Far

Scoop

time3 hours ago

  • Scoop

Elective Boost Delivers Over 9,500 Additional Procedures So Far

Minister of Health More than 9,500 additional procedures have now been delivered as part of the Government's elective boost, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'This is what putting patients first looks like. We are focused on increasing delivery of elective treatments – across both public and private hospitals – to reduce wait times for Kiwis needing procedures like hip replacements or cataract surgery,' Mr Brown says. Through this initiative, Health New Zealand is partnering with private hospitals to expand surgical capacity across the country. The plan aims to deliver over 10,579 additional elective procedures by the end of June – a target now well within reach, with 9,696 procedures completed by the week ending 11 May. Of those, 8,631 were delivered through outsourcing. Common procedures being delivered include: Hip and knee replacements Cataract surgeries Hernia repairs Tonsillectomies Ear operations Mr Brown says the programme is targeting those who've faced the longest delays, with almost 60 per cent of patients having waited over four months for their surgery. 'Our goal is clear – 95 per cent of patients receiving elective treatment within four months by 2030. This is a key health target, and we're getting on with the job of delivering it. 'We are investing a record $30 billion annually in health, with a strong focus on boosting frontline services, reducing waiting times, and ensuring better outcomes for patients. 'By unlocking capacity across the entire health system, we're delivering faster treatment and shorter wait times – and that's exactly what Kiwis deserve,' Mr Brown says.

Partnership Approach To FMD Signed And Sealed
Partnership Approach To FMD Signed And Sealed

Scoop

time19 hours ago

  • Scoop

Partnership Approach To FMD Signed And Sealed

Minister for Biosecurity A new agreement between the Government and key livestock industry groups marks a major milestone in New Zealand's readiness for a potential foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. 'The Foot and Mouth Disease Operational Agreement confirms how Government and industry will jointly prepare for, and respond to, a possible outbreak - including how costs will be shared,' Mr Hoggard said. Six industry organisations - DairyNZ, the Dairy Companies Association, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, NZPork, Deer Industry New Zealand, and the Meat Industry Association - have signed the agreement with MPI, which takes effect from 1 July 2025 for five years. 'An outbreak could cost up to $3 billion to eradicate, but doing nothing would be far worse - potentially slashing export values by $14.3 billion per year until it's controlled,' said Mr Hoggard. 'Through this agreement, we're locking in a truly collaborative approach. Industry will contribute 40% of readiness costs and 15% of response costs - capped at $450 million - and in return, they'll have a formal seat at the decision-making table.' Mr Hoggard says the agreement reflects years of work and a shared commitment to protecting New Zealand's vital livestock sector. 'This is a significant and practical step forward for our national biosecurity system.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store