Almost 20,000 New Zealanders call for urgent action on youth mental health
Our letter and petition to the Minister for Mental Health together we called on the Government to take urgent action to address poor child and youth mental health rates.
On 19 February 2026 the Minister for Mental Health, Hon. Matt Doocey, received a joint letter and petition signed by 19,615 New Zealanders. Together, we called on the Government to take urgent action to address poor child and youth mental health rates.
The petition urges both immediate, and long-term steps to ensure that young New Zealanders can access the timely, effective mental health supports they need — and deserve.
For too long, young people have had the highest rates of mental health challenges in the country, yet waited the longest for support. This collective action reflects a growing, nationwide demand for meaningful change.
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