Youth Parliament 2025: Youth MP calls for increased investment in mental health
Chelsea Brown, the Youth MP for North Shore MP Simon Watts, is the head girl of Carmel College and an involved student who’s an aware advocate for the inadequacies of our mental health system.
North Shore Youth MP Cheslea Brown. Photo supplied
During the 2025 Youth Parliament, Brown spoke fiercely from her personal experiences regarding what she sees as a mental health crisis.
She called for the implementation of a nationwide curriculum that could be supported training modules which would teach the skillsets required to confront our own mental health battles as well as on how to support a friend.
In Aotearoa New Zealand our youth, as well as our general population, face a mental health epidemic, she shared.
In 2021, it was found that 25 per cent of Kiwis faced poor mental well-being.
Over half of New Zealanders aged 15-24 face symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Brown says this isn’t good enough and more support is needed for our young people.
“We can’t sit around and let another 617 lives be lost to mental health battles because there are other things to fix first,” she says.
“We need to fix our priorities because every life is valuable.”
North Shore Youth MP Chelsea Brown, with Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon. Photo supplied
The Government always seems to have more important things to fix, another problem to solve, another building to build, forgetting about one of the biggest killers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
During the Youth Parliament hearing, mental health was one of the topics most spoken about.
Youth MPs also spoke consistently about issues related to environmental reforms and social equity.
It’s clear mental health is one of the most important topics everyday young Kiwis are concerned about.
This begs the question of why nothing is being done to help those who clearly know what young people want.
Young people are constantly advocating and campaigning for increased investment in mental health foundations and reforms, yet little is done.
Aotearoa New Zealand is currently facing a major shortage of psychologists.
Estimates in the last six years suggest at least 1000 more psychologists are needed to keep up with current need, which continues to rise.
This is failing the future of our country. It is vital Kiwis have the skillsets and education required to support themselves and those who are struggling, Brown elaborates.
Education is power and mental health is one of the core values of Hauora, yet New Zealanders are not given the adequate resources to empower themselves on how they can help themselves, their whanau, and the tāngata whenua, Brown says.
By Taara Malhi, 2025 Youth Parliament Youth Press Gallery member & Dear Em Embassador
Story originally published by Eastern Times
