Policy Briefing: Cultural Identity and Mental Health Outcomes for Indigenous Māori Youth in New Zealand

Rangatahi Māori, the Indigenous youth of New Zealand experience significantly poorer mental health outcomes compared to Pākehā/NZ European youth. Suicide death rates for Māori youth are almost twice that of non-Māori. Despite the concerning health and social impacts of poor mental health, Māori youth are significantly less likely to be able to access healthcare when needed and frequently experience mental health stigma and ethnic discrimination.