Background information about Young Aotearoa

Why now? What is the difference between Young Aotearoa and other mental health surveys?

New Zealand’s only national mental health prevalence survey, Te Rau Hinengaro, surveyed people aged 16 and over and was completed in 2006, which means it is now 20 years out of date.

While other youth mental health surveys in New Zealand have used screening measures to understand trends in the levels of mental wellbeing and mental distress, Young Aotearoa will provide the first nationally representative prevalence statistics on the mental health and substance use conditions in children and young people aged 5 to 24 in New Zealand.
 

Who is running the survey?

The survey has been developed with advice from researchers, clinicians, people with lived experience, community representatives, and young people. This helps ensure the survey is evidence-informed, safe, relevant, and appropriate for children, young people, and whānau in New Zealand.

Young Aotearoa – The Child and Youth Mental Health Survey is funded by the Ministry of Health.

Survey interviews will be conducted by Ipsos New Zealand. Ipsos is an ISO-certified [link to explanation] research firm with experience in nationwide surveys on sensitive topics, including the Crime and Victims Survey and the New Zealand Health Survey. Interviewers must meet child protection and safety screening requirements, receive specialist training for this survey, and work under clear protocols and supervision.

The University of Auckland has provided advice on the survey design.

Advisory groups have also provided advice and recommendations, including making sure that it provides the right information and is safe and valuable for those participating.

• An Expert Advisory Group has provided technical and expert advice. This group includes people with expertise in child and youth mental health, addictions, lived experience, survey design, workforce development, and disability, Māori, Pacific, Asian, and rainbow health.
• A Youth Advisory Group has helped shape the design the survey and how it will work. The group helps ensure young people's perspectives are reflected throughout the project and that participation is accessible, respectful, and meaningful for rangatahi.

Youthline will provide support and referral services to participants where needed.

“The Youth Advisory Group exists to ensure rangatahi voice is heard not only in the results of the study, but its design and implementation. Members of the Youth Advisory Group bring their lived experience and expertise, providing the youth-perspective that isn’t otherwise present. We work to ensure the study is accessible-to and workable-for young people in Aotearoa to get the most accurate reflection of child and youth mental health.” – Youth Advisory Group for Young Aotearoa

What does the survey ask about?

The survey covers a range of topics to do with mental health and substance use. Some questions are adjusted by the age of the child or young person. Some questions are only asked of young adults (18-24 years old).

The survey includes questions about both strengths and challenges in children's and young people's lives. Topics and questions are similar across the surveys – children, young people, and parents/caregivers are asked about the child or young person’s:

• Mental health and any challenges, treatments, or support they may have had
• Experiences with drugs and alcohol, including any challenges, treatments or support they may have had
• Identity, family and home
• Feelings, moods, worries, and tough times
• Experiences around how they get on with others
• Experiences around being safe and being harmed, including self-harm, thoughts of suicide, bullying, abuse, and other difficult experiences
• Online activities like social media use, gaming and watching pornography
• Experiences of getting help, and what makes it easier or harder

Answers are kept private and protected. If there are concerns that a participant or someone else may be at risk of harm, established safety procedures will help connect the participant with appropriate support. Information about Youthline and other support services is available throughout the survey.

The survey asks direct questions which some people might find uncomfortable or upsetting. If that happens, participants can choose not to answer, to take a break, stop the survey, or arrange to complete it another time.

How do permissions and consent work?

Agreeing to take part is an important decision. Young Aotearoa has worked with child and youth health research experts to develop age-appropriate consent and assent processes. These processes are designed to help children, young people, and parents/caregivers understand their choices, their rights, and what taking part involves before they decide whether to participate.

Participation is voluntary. People can choose not to take part, skip questions, take breaks, or stop the survey at any time.

The permissions and consent process for Young Aotearoa has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee.

This study has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee: https://ethics.health.govt.nz/about/

Will Young Aotearoa be linked to other data?

Yes. Participants are given the option to have their data added to the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI).

The IDI is a large research database containing information about people and households. Researchers can only access IDI information for an approved public-interest project. These researchers are carefully checked and trained, must follow strict information privacy rules, and can only use the data in a secure Stats NZ environment. Stats NZ checks all research results before they leave that environment and will not release results that could identify an individual. Find out more about the IDI here.

Young Aotearoa’s consent processes include explanations of what the IDI is, including a video link. We also make it clear to children, young people, and parents/caregivers that contributing to the IDI is optional – they can still do the survey without opting in to the IDI. Participants can also withdraw their answers from the IDI by contacting Ipsos by 7 January 2028.

Linking Young Aotearoa survey answers to the IDI means New Zealand researchers can learn more about how mental health connects to other parts of life – like education, healthcare use, or family circumstances. This helps build a fuller picture and leads to better decisions about services and support for young people.

Where can I find the results from the survey?

The grouped results from Young Aotearoa will be published on the Ministry of Health website in 2028.