The Y Central South Island today released the results report from Youth Survey 2024, which aims to take the pulse of the region’s taiohi aged 12-24 years on a range of topics.

An average of 935 young people participated across the three parts of the survey: Attitudes, Education & Employment, and Wellbeing. Youth Survey 2024 covered taiohi living in in the districts of Ashburton, Mackenzie, Timaru, Waimate, and – for the first time – Waitaki.

This year’s survey included new questions on factors and barriers in choosing a career, the impact of the cost of living crisis, access and barriers to medical/mental health services, Rainbow support services, effect of social media usage on wellbeing, and the Government’s ban on cellphones in schools.

Key findings from the Youth Survey 2024 Results Report (available here) include:

 •   Young people gave a weighted score of 3.87 stars out of 5 to describe their overall quality of life. Waitaki District scored highest at 4.01 stars (ASH 3.82, TIM 3.80).

•    Young people identified their top 5 health issues as vaping/smoking 82% (2021: 78%), mental health/depression/stress 62% (2021: 64%), bullying 56% (2019: 54%), social media addiction 46% (2021: 35%) and alcohol 40% (2021: 50%). Drugs is not among the top 5 for the first time since this youth survey began in 2014. Self-harm (29%) and eating disorders (12%) were listed for the first time this year.

•    Among the small number (62) of gender diverse respondents the top 5 health issues were cited as mental health/depression/stress 86%, vaping/smoking 71%, bullying 64%, and self-harm and eating disorders at 43% each.

•    Nearly a quarter (23%) of young people say it is ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ to get help for a medical health issue in their District (ASH 22%, TIM 19%, WTK 28%). For mental health issues this increases to 28% (ASH 35%, TIM 22%, WTK 29%). Among gender diverse respondents the comparable figures are 50% for medical health issues and 75% for mental health issues.

•    Not having the confidence to acknowledge that help is needed is a big barrier to accessing medical or mental health services. However, many young people commented they are not taken seriously when they do seek help. Lack of qualified staff, long waiting lists and cost were also frequently cited barriers.

•    Stress remains an issue for young people. 41% (2021: 44%) say they experience stress or anxiety that negatively affects them ‘most of the time’ or ‘always’ (ASH 50%, TIM 40%, WTK 36%). By age 16 that figure reaches 58% (2021: 59%) and continues to increase with age, a pattern seen in all previous surveys.

•    30% of young people age 16+ have no driver licence and a further 22% have only a learner licence. Lack of a driver licence is a significant barrier to work readiness and employability, with many jobs requiring a full licence.

•    The thing young people most wish employers understood about them is ‘We make mistakes/we’re still learning’. Young people also feel strongly that age does not define capability, that they do not all fit the phone-obsessed slacker stereotype but can be hard workers who should be valued and encouraged.

Survey results are remarkably similar across Districts, according to Michèle Keggenhoff, Youth Survey project manager.

“Since the inception of the Youth Survey in 2014, young people consistently tell us they mostly have a good quality of life and that their District is a pretty good place to live – although there could always be more made available for young people to do,” Keggenhoff said.

“But they also consistently tell us they are stressed as on their journey to adulthood they juggle the demands of school, extracurricular and work obligations for some, societal expectations and judgements, and there are few opportunities for them to have a say on policies and decision that affect them. This survey is one way of enabling their voice to be heard.”

The Y Central South Island has conducted the biennial survey since 2014 as a public service and advocacy project to give the region’s young people a voice. Survey results are widely shared with local government, health, education and social sector organisations and the business community to help inform and improve services for young people. It is the Y’s great hope and expectation that service providers, planners, strategists and decision-makers across the region will take note and take action.