New insights into New Zealanders’ mental health and problematic substance use

New insights into New Zealanders’ mental health and problematic substance use have been published today.

The report Mental health and problematic substance use presents the findings from the 2021/22 and 2022/23 New Zealand Health Survey and can be compared to previous results from 2016/17. This enables trends to be monitored and supports the development of health services, policies and strategies needed to prevent and manage poor mental health and problematic substance use as well as to promote mental wellbeing.

When compared with key findings from 2016/17, the 2021-23 report shows:

• In 2021-23, about 1 in 3 adults (34.8%) reported experiencing mild or greater anxiety and/or depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks, compared to about 1 in 4 adults (25.0%) in 2016/17.
• More children experienced emotional symptoms in 2021-23, such as worries or unhappiness, over the last 6 months or school year.
• In 2021-23, about 1 in 4 adults (27.0%) reported having a moderate or high risk of problematic substance use (which includes alcohol and tobacco use), compared to about 1 in 3 adults (32.6%) in 2016/17. This largely reflects decreases in the reported prevalence of moderate or high risk of problematic alcohol and tobacco use, although this was slightly offset by an increase in the reported prevalence of moderate or high risk of problematic use of illicit substances, such as cannabis and sedatives or sleeping pills.
• There was a large increase in young adults (15-24 years) who reported experiencing mild or greater anxiety and/or depression symptoms, as well as moderate or high risk of problematic illicit substance use.
• More adults told us they used some type of service or support in the past 12 months for concerns about their mental health or substance use. Over the same period, the number of children and adults who felt that they needed professional help, but did not receive it, also increased.

“Since 2016/17 when the mental health and problematic substance use module was first included in the New Zealand Health Survey, the global mental health landscape has changed significantly, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Robyn Shearer, Deputy Director-General, Clinical, Community and Mental Health at the Ministry of Health. “We know that Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Services continue to experience significant demand pressures from people seeking help. We have also been growing our primary mental health services, which respond to demand for wellbeing and primary mental health tools and supports.

“What we are seeing in this latest New Zealand Health Survey report is consistent with what is happening around the world. Addressing the increase in demand for mental health services, including through promoting mental wellbeing and intervening early, is a priority for us and for the Government.

“Mental wellbeing is more than the absence of mental illness. The New Zealand Health Survey also includes data on life satisfaction, family wellbeing, not feeling lonely and children having parents who can get emotional support for parenting. This information can support efforts to promote and monitor mental wellbeing in our communities.”

Kia Manawanui Aotearoa: Long-term pathway for mental wellbeing is the whole-of-government, long-term pathway for transforming New Zealand’s approach to mental wellbeing. This pathway highlights the importance of a population-based approach to improving mental wellbeing and seeks both to improve mental wellbeing outcomes for the whole population, which requires addressing inequities that lead to disparities in mental wellbeing outcomes particularly for Māori, disabled adults and people living in the most deprived areas.

“We are also focussed on improving access for youth to mental health services, including in primary care and school-based services, because we know early intervention in childhood and adolescence not only supports better wellbeing in these time periods but can help prevent enduring mental health disorders in adulthood and is associated with higher academic performance.

“Addressing mental health and addiction needs and promoting wellbeing requires all-of-government collaboration. Health entities are working alongside partners across the health, social and economic sectors and with communities, whānau and individuals to address key determinants of mental health such as housing, crime, and family and sexual violence.

“The findings of the New Zealand Health Survey will help us track our progress on the work underway to enable the health system to meet the future needs of New Zealanders.”