Whitu: 7 ways in 7 days - randomised controlled trial of a coping skills app to support the emotional wellbeing of young people during the Covid-19 pandemic

Both mental health professionals, these researchers believe up to one million New Zealand young people aged 16 to 30 could benefit from an app that provides seven learning modules over a week. The modules provide coping mechanisms to tackle anxiety and depression. Prior to Covid-19, New Zealand young people - especially those of Maori and Pacific ethnicity - experienced high rates of mental distress, and the country has the worst suicide rate (19.3 per 100,000 young people and 36.4 per 100,000 Maori) among OECD nations, Dr Anna Serlachius explains. "Recent stresses related to rapid lockdown, physical isolation, disrupted academic routines and financial insecurity are likely to exacerbate pre-existing mental health issues and generate new ones." With $98,281 in funding, the team will collaborate with mental health, e-health, Maori and Pacific Island researchers, on a cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary project.