Ask Our Rangatahi Māori: Mental Health Conversations With Māori Youth Experts in the North Island

Rangatahi Māori (Māori youth) experience disproportionately high rates of mental health problems, and there is a need to understand and address the social determinants of this over-representation. This qualitative study centred rangatahi as experts on youth mental health and asked them what they saw as the challenges for rangatahi Māori mental health. A Māori-centred reflexive Thematic Analysis analysed data from two collaborative workshops with 33 rangatahi participants (16–25 years). Themes captured the challenges facing rangatahi, including disconnection to cultural resources, lack of support for their culture in local settings, fears for the future of the natural environment, economic difficulties, pressure to meet expectations, threats to safety, and limited support for mental health. These were seen by rangatahi as a product of colonial systems and approaches. Despite this, rangatahi demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness, pulling mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) from their kete (basket of knowledge) to protect and support their mental health.