Rapid and unequal decline in adolescent mental health and well-being 2012-2019: Findings from New Zealand cross-sectional surveys.

Objective: To investigate prevalence and trends in key mental health and well-being indicators among New Zealand secondary school students.

Methods: Representative cross-sectional youth health surveys with 2-4% of the New Zealand secondary school population were conducted in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2019 (total  = 34,548).

Results: In 2019, 69.

Indigenous adolescent health in Aotearoa New Zealand: Trends, policy and advancing equity for rangatahi Maori, 2001-2019.

Background: Rangatahi Māori, the Indigenous adolescents of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), have poorer health outcomes than Pākehā (NZ European /other European/"White") adolescents. We explored the influence of policies for Indigenous youth by presenting health trends, inequities and contrasting policy case examples: tobacco control and healthcare access.

Methods: Cross-sectional representative surveys of NZ secondary school students were undertaken in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2019.

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

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.

New Zealand Youth19 survey: vaping has wider appeal than smoking in secondary school students, and most use nicotine-containing e-cigarettes.

Objective: To investigate smoking and vaping in secondary school students (aged 13-18 years) in New Zealand (NZ) following the introduction of 'pod' e-cigarettes, which have been associated with the rapid escalation of youth vaping elsewhere.

Methods: Data on smoking and vaping were collected in 2019 as part of a comprehensive youth health survey (N=7,721).

Results: Vaping was 2-3 times more prevalent than smoking, with 10% of students vaping regularly (monthly or more often), and 6% weekly or more often, compared with 4% and 2%, respectively, for tobacco smoking.

Technology Matters: SPARX - computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescent depression in a game format.

Adolescent depression is common, and its prevalence is thought to be increasing in many high income nations. Addressing adolescent depression has proven challenging using traditional face-to-face psychotherapies, with major barriers including workforce shortages internationally and reluctance to seek help among some adolescents. There is substantial evidence to support the use of digital tools to treat mental health problems, with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) now recommending such tools as a first-line treatment.

Young adolescents' interest in a mental health casual video game.

Background: Mental distress and disorders among adolescents are well documented. Despite the array of treatments available, many mental health issues remain untreated and often undiagnosed. In an attempt to narrow the treatment gap, researchers have adapted existing mental health interventions into digital formats.

Co-creating a large-scale adolescent health survey integrated with access to digital health interventions.

Aim: This paper describes how we engaged with adolescents and health providers to integrate access to digital health interventions as part of a large-scale secondary school health and wellbeing survey in New Zealand.

Methods: We conducted nine participatory, iterative co-design sessions involving 29 adolescents, and two workshops with young people (n = 11), digital and health service providers (n = 11) and researchers (n = 9) to gain insights into end-user perspectives on the concept and how best to integrate digital interventions in to the survey.

Results: Students' perceived integrating access to digital health interventions into a large-scale youth health survey as acceptable and highly beneficial.

The Effects of Casual Videogames on Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Low Mood: A Systematic Review.

Despite the variety of available treatments for mental health symptoms, many individuals do not engage with treatment and among those who do, dropout rates are often high. Therefore, providing alternative opportunities to access treatment is imperative. Research interest in the therapeutic effects of digital mental health initiatives and serious games has grown in recent years, but the potential of simple, easy-to-use casual videogames (CVGs) that can be played in short bursts of time has seldom been considered.