New prevalence study will provide vital data

New Zealand is a step closer to getting accurate information about the level of mental health need in the community. Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health, announced on 26 September that the Government will fund the first Child and Youth Mental Health and Addiction Prevalence survey.

This is in line with our recommended approach of starting with rangatahi and young people, before extending prevalence study to the wider population. This critical investment will support evidence-based decision making for services as well as improved system monitoring.

While a view of mental health, substance use conditions and the distribution among our young population is welcomed, we also advocate for collection of information about wellbeing and what gives children and young people strength.

Wellbeing more broadly considers determinant factors and other sources of individual and family capability that drive mental health outcomes and prevent mental distress. For example, we know from our own assessment that a strong cultural identity for young Māori is an important enabler of better mental health outcomes.

Given this, we are also heartened to see a funding announcement for further funding of the Growing up in NZ study (GUiNZ) by Minister for Social Development Louise Upston on 19 September 2024. New Zealand's largest contemporary longitudinal study of child development, hosted and led by the University of Auckland, now has received $16.4 million of government funding until 2028.

This next stage of investment for GUiNZ will provide information about the participants as they transition through puberty, adolescence, school, and into adulthood and work.

Together these two sources of data will offer rich insights about causality of mental health but also broader wellbeing for children and young people. Data linking and making data available from both these studies across the system for central agencies is critical for system performance monitoring.