18th May 2026
Most young New Zealanders say the mental health system is falling short and worry about phone addiction and their family’s finances, according to a new report.
The latest State of the Generation report from Youthline and funded by ASB paints a picture of a generation navigating rising living costs, job insecurity, online pressures and growing concerns about the impact of social media and AI.
Based on a nationwide survey of New Zealanders aged 12 to 24, the report found mental health was considered the most important issue facing young people today, identified by 59% of respondents.
Many also felt support systems were struggling to meet demand, with 32% saying the biggest challenge was a lack of access to mental health support. Long wait times, cost, transport difficulties and confusion around how to access services were all identified as barriers.
Youthline chief executive Shae Ronald said the findings reflected what the organisation was seeing every day.
“Whilst it was reassuring to see that Youthline is still well known as the number one mental health support organisation for young people to reach out to for support, 41% of young people were not aware of any mental health support organisations,” Ronald said.
The report found some groups were experiencing significantly higher levels of distress than others, particularly rainbow, disabled and neurodiverse young people, as well as Māori, Pasifika and migrant communities.
While just over half of respondents described themselves using only positive words, one in 10 used only negative terms such as “stressed”, “anxious” or “lonely”. Negative feelings were especially common among 18 to 24-year-olds.
Financial stress also featured heavily throughout the report. Cost of living and concerns about the job market were among the most significant pressures facing young people, with many saying they worried about paying for essentials such as food, housing and bills.
Nearly half of 12 to 17-year-olds surveyed said they felt worried because their parents or whānau were stressed about money.
Social pressure and life online were also recurring themes. A quarter of respondents said they felt constant pressure to “have everything together”, fuelled by expectations from adults, peers and social media.
Two-thirds said phone addiction and screen time were among the most common issues young people face today, while a similar number pointed to social media itself. Bullying was also seen as widespread, with many saying online harassment felt impossible to escape because of the always-connected nature of digital life.
Artificial intelligence emerged as another growing concern. Almost half of the respondents said they were “a little worried” about AI, while one in five were “very worried”. Concerns included misinformation, difficulty knowing what content is real and fears about future employment opportunities.
Young people also called for stronger protections online, including stricter safety rules for social media companies, more digital literacy education in schools and improved safety features on apps and platforms.
Despite the challenges, the report found many young people remained optimistic about their own futures and relied heavily on friends and family for support. Parents and caregivers were the most common source of help, followed closely by friends.
However, the report also found nearly a quarter of respondents turned to social media to connect with others experiencing similar struggles, while one in five said they had spoken to AI chatbots for support.
Ronald said the findings highlighted the importance of listening directly to young people and ensuring support systems evolve alongside the realities they face.
“At Youthline we have seen a huge increase in young people reaching out to us for support, especially since Covid-19,” she said.
“In the past three months we hit an all-time high connecting an average of four young people a day with emergency services, compared to one a week only five years ago.”
