Mixed progress in adolescent health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand 2001–2019: a population overview from the Youth2000 survey series

ABSTRACT We explored progress on key indicators of adolescent health and wellbeing among New Zealand secondary school students over the last two decades. We analysed data from comprehensive surveys conducted in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2019 (n = 9546, 9098, 8487, and 7311, respectively). Schools, and students within schools, were randomly selected. Prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios show large reductions in substance use (e.g. prevalence of past‐month binge drinking declined from 41.5% to 21.8%), sexual experience (31.6% to 20.6%) and past‐month risky driving (58.8% to 37.1%). However, from 2012–2019 there were rapid increases in symptoms of depression (13.0% to 22.8%; RADS‐SF), suicide thoughts (15.3% to 20.8%) and suicide attempts (3.9% to 6.3%) and declines in emotional wellbeing (76.0% to 69.1%; WHO‐5). Changes in family and school contexts were generally positive or minimal, although the proportion of students whose families worry about money for food increased from 2001 to 2019 (7.2% to 12.5%) and access to health services decreased from 2007 to 2019 (83.5% to 78.2%). This study demonstrates that health status and risks among New Zealand adolescents have changed dramatically over 20 years, with areas of large improvement. However, mental wellbeing requires urgent attention.