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February 25, 2026
#hauora: Alarm Raised as Fewer Rangatahi Access Specialist Mental Health Services
Dale Husband
Posted On February 25, 2026
Download AudioConcerns are mounting across the mental health sector as new data shows fewer young people are accessing specialist mental health and addiction services, even as psychological distress among rangatahi continues to climb.
Sonja Russell, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Hinengaro and Director of Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, says the trend is deeply troubling. Recent figures indicate that while reported levels of anxiety, depression and severe emotional distress among 15 to 24-year-olds are increasing, referrals and access to specialist services have declined.
Sector leaders warn this mismatch could signal systemic barriers preventing young people from receiving timely and appropriate care. Rising distress without corresponding service uptake raises the risk of worsening mental health outcomes, including crisis presentations, self-harm, and long-term disengagement from education and employment.
The data is particularly concerning for Māori, Pacific and disabled rangatahi, who are experiencing some of the highest levels of psychological distress. Long-standing inequities in access to culturally responsive care, socioeconomic pressures, racism, ableism and service fragmentation compound the challenges these groups face. Advocates say the decline in specialist engagement may reflect structural barriers such as long wait times, workforce shortages, referral bottlenecks and services that do not align with the lived realities of diverse communities.
There are also concerns that rangatahi may be disengaging from formal services altogether, either due to stigma, previous negative experiences, or difficulty navigating a complex and often siloed system. For Māori youth in particular, culturally safe and kaupapa Māori-based approaches are seen as essential to building trust and improving outcomes.
Sector leaders argue that clearer leadership and accountability are urgently needed. Questions remain about where responsibility sits across Te Whatu Ora, primary care, community providers and specialist services to ensure young people are not left waiting or falling through the cracks. Without coordinated oversight, gaps between referral, assessment and treatment can widen.
Immediate system changes being called for include strengthening early intervention services, expanding kaupapa Māori and Pacific-led mental health providers, increasing workforce capacity, and simplifying referral pathways. There is also growing emphasis on integrating mental health support into schools and community settings to reduce reliance on overstretched specialist services.
Mental health advocates stress that the current trajectory is unsustainable. As distress among rangatahi rises, a reduction in specialist engagement risks deepening inequities and delaying support until problems become acute.
The warning from sector leadership is clear: without urgent and coordinated action, too many young people may face escalating mental health challenges without the timely care they need.
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