"We're living in a world that wasn't built for us": A qualitative exploration of young New Zealander's perspectives on socio-ecological determinants of declining youth mental health.

BACKGROUND

Globally, youth mental health has been in decline since the beginning of the 21st century. While much has been written about the reasons for this, we have little understanding of young people's perspectives. A rich understanding of the issues young people identify as impacting their mental health is essential for developing effective interventions. This study aimed to explore what young people from Aotearoa, New Zealand believe impacts their mental health, both positively and negatively, with a focus on social determinants.

METHODS

176 young people (16-25-year-olds, mean age 17) participated in one of 19 workshops held in 2023. Our methodology was informed by participatory research methods and developed in consultation with young people who served as advisors. Workshops were held across rural and urban areas of two regions of New Zealand. Recordings were transcribed, combined with survey responses, and analysed through Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified which young people perceived as impacting their wellbeing: The world we live in, the pressures we experience, the connections we need, and finding our path. All factors identified as impacting on their mental health, both positive and negative, were 'amplified' by social media.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the intersecting issues of systemic social determinants of wellbeing and their complex relationship with an evolving digital landscape. Effectively addressing rising rates of mental health challenges is likely to hinge on both population level action to address social determinants and targeted promotion of strategies to support young people to navigate the increasing complexity of modern life.