The Ministry of Health welcomes the Government’s commitment to ongoing funding of $2 million per year for a Child and Youth Mental Health and Addiction Prevalence Survey, Dean Rutherford, Deputy Director-General, Evidence Research & Innovation says.
‘The survey will measure the range, proportion, and distribution of mental health conditions among children and young people, and critically, will help determine what services and supports are required to respond to need.
‘This will be the first survey of its kind in 20 years, and the first ever prevalence survey for children and young people, helping end the data deficit that currently exists around mental health and addiction in New Zealand.
‘Clinicians, advocacy groups, and the Auditor General’s report Meeting the mental health needs of young New Zealanders have all highlighted the need for improved data about the mental health of young New Zealanders – particularly prevalence data.
‘There are longstanding gaps in our understanding of mental health and substance use related conditions. Most of our current data sources only tell us about people who are using health services. This survey will fill those gaps and support more effective decisions and planning, including a needs-based allocation of resource, and targeted prevention, treatment, and care options.
‘We are excited to commence work to design and develop the survey, getting it into the field and publishing first results in 2027. We'll be working closely with experts, stakeholders, and those who work closely with our children and young people to ensure the survey provides the information needed and is safe.
‘We also want to ensure future decision makers continue to have information to make informed decisions around young people’s mental health.
‘At a time when our health services are under immense pressure, establishing a sustainable avenue for the collection of information will allow us to make informed decisions about our workforce and the services they provide and evaluate the extent to which these are delivering the outcomes our children and young people deserve.
‘This is an important investment into mental health services and a big win for the health data system and government data system more broadly. The more information we have on where there is the highest need, the more we can ensure we are investing our resources in the most effective way,’ Dean Rutherford says.
