KidsRights Index 2025 Now Available
A devastating global mental health crisis among children and adolescents is reaching critical levels, with suicide the third leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years. According to the KidsRights Index Report 2025 released today, the only ranking that annually and systematically reviews the global state of children's rights worldwide.
This year's study highlights that over 14 percent of children and adolescents aged 10-19 years globally are experiencing mental health concerns, with the global average suicide rate standing at 6 per 100,000 among adolescents aged 15-19 years. However, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child warns that these figures represent only the tip of the iceberg, as suicides remain significantly underreported worldwide due to stigma, misclassification, and inadequate reporting mechanisms.
Visit the KidsRights Index and the interactive map: https://www.kidsrights.org/kidsrights-index/
Marc Dullaert, KidsRights Founder and Chair, stated that: 'This year's report is a wake-up call that we cannot ignore any longer. The mental health and/or wellbeing crisis among our children has reached a tipping point, exacerbated by the unchecked expansion of social media platforms that prioritize engagement over child safety.
The controversy surrounding Netflix's 'Adolescence' in February highlighted global concerns about children's representation and protection in digital media – but we need action, not just outrage".
Directly download the full report (PDF): https://files.kidsrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/10223817/KidsRights-Index-2025-Report.pdf
The KidsRights Index is the annual global index published by the KidsRights Foundation which charts how countries adhere to and are equipped to improve children's rights. The KidsRights Index is an initiative of the KidsRights Foundation, in cooperation with Erasmus University Rotterdam: Erasmus School of Economics and the International Institute of Social Studies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
'The Inequities Aren't Closing' - Māori Still A Long Way From Smokefree 2025 Goal
The Smokefree 2025 goal is only months away, but Māori smokefree advocates are concerned that Māori smoking rates have remained more than double that of the general population. The advocates say a 'business as usual' approach from the government - which shifts the responsibility to quit smoking onto individuals - is not going to get the country there. The annual New Zealand Health Survey showed that in 2023/24 about 300,000 adults - 6.9 percent - were daily smokers. The aim of the Smokefree 2025 is to have less than 5 percent of the population smoking by December. That is already a tough ask, but for Māori daily smoking rates were two times higher at 14.7 percent - although that had declined from 30.4 percent over the past five years. Anaru Waa, the interim chair of Te Roopu Tupeka Kore, the Māori Tobacco Control network, said Māori smoking rates were still trending down. But he was worried they will plateau, with the latest Health Survey suggesting this is happening across the board. "I'm not optimistic, I think we're no closer than we were a few years ago, I'm hugely concerned about how the reductions in smoking have seemed to have stopped... and I'm hugely concerned about the vaping," he said. Waa said the country was not on track to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal. The goal was to get everybody below the 5 percent mark - not some people ahead of everyone else, he said. "The trends are going in the wrong direction and... the inequities aren't closing like we wanted." Longtime tobacco control campaigner Shane Bradbrook said Māori people were not to blame - it was the tobacco industry's fault. "The industry is back in alignment again politically, so it sets the kaupapa back, but I think we still have that energy and passion to make sure that we reach a goal of being tupeka kore (smokefree)." Bradbrook - along with then-Māori Party MPs Hone Harawira and Tariana Turia - led the charge towards the Smokefree 2025 goal at the 2010 Māori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry. Following the inquiry in 2011, the government agreed to the goal for New Zealand to be smokefree by 2025. Other countries are currently adopting the same measures and policies that Māori wanted and thought they had already won, Bradbrook said. "Absolutely we are going backwards, I mean it's 2025. We led the fight to the Māori Affairs Select Committee, we got the report done, we got the recommendations sorted, but largely its been undone by successive governments that have terrible in terms of continuing on that policy legacy for our people," he said. Waa said the goal of tupeka kore (smokefree) led by Turia and Harawira shifted away from what he described as the 'business as usual' approach to tobacco control which had operated previously, which had only perpetuated inequities in smoking rates. This shifted the problem from one of individuals to a societal one, which required structural change to address, he said. That was what the legislation brought in by the last Labour government was aimed at, he said. "It was a game changer, it wasn't business as usual, it was making tobacco non-addictive, it was hugely reducing its access and creating a smokefree generation, that's totally different to what we've had. "So we would have got our goal maybe not this year, but certainly next year, but this government saw otherwise and repealed it, now we're back to square one, in fact we're still fighting that plus the vaping epidemic." Waa said vaping had not done much to reduce smoking rates among rangatahi (young people), in fact he said the majority of rangatahi who vape now have never smoked cigarettes. "I really resist that idea that people take up vapes because they would have otherwise smoked, I think that's wrong they would have quit anyway and it's called a false base rate fallacy. Vapes themselves have been around since 2010, but we've really seen their impacts since 2015 and particularly since 2018." About 480,000 adults (11.1 percent) were daily vapers in 2023/24, up slightly from 9.7 percent the previous year. The highest daily vaping rates were in Māori (28.8 percent), Pacific peoples (21.5 percent), and young people aged 18-24 years (26.5 percent). Waa said while he was pessimistic about Smokefree 2025, he remained very optimistic about Māori and the fact that there were still people out in the communities and willing to do the work which had carried Māori tobacco control through all these years. Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon said the challenge was now on her and her colleagues in Parliament to decide on the next legislative steps to take on tobacco. "I'm a mother of the Smokefree generation lost and thinking of my baby born in 2009. I was excited for what the future might bring, but with the repeal of the legislation I was gutted." Lyndon said she was looking forward to the discussion around what Smokefree 2026 2.0 could be. Government 'committed to the Smokefree targets' Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said the number of Māori smokers and Māori smoking rates have decreased dramatically in the past few years. "Historically, Māori smoking rates were very high and the gains are from that higher starting point, but in the last five years, for example, 95,000 Māori have stopped smoking and the smoking rate has dropped by 52 percent." Māori and wahine Māori in particular have benefited from using vapes, which are a much safer product, to stop smoking, she said. "Clearly, we want to do more - the government is committed to the Smokefree targets and has an action plan in place that among other things, specifically targets those populations where there are higher smoking rates. Our stop smoking providers are also very attuned to working with Māori and what approaches work for getting Māori whanau and communities to think about quitting. I'm meeting with providers again next week to talk through these issues. "There's a misconception about what our problem is, however - most smokers are older and have been smoking for some time, so they need help to quit and that's what we're focused on. "When the Health Survey, which is what we use to measure smoking rates, started in 2012 there were 119,000 young - as in 18- to 24-year-old - smokers. Last year there were 19,000. For under 18s, the smoking rate is 0.6 percent - that's hugely different from when I was a teenager. Our young people aren't smoking and don't want to smoke and that's great news."
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
TELUS Mental Health Index: Significant Savings Gaps And Gender Disparities Challenge The Wellbeing Of NZ's Workforce
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - Today, TELUS Health released its TELUS Mental Health Index ('the Index'), revealing significant savings gaps and gender disparities across New Zealand's workforce that impact overall wellbeing. The report also shows that two in five workers have no emergency savings, while parents express mounting concerns about their children's mental health. Regional disparities further underscore the need for tailored wellbeing support. 'The current economic climate coupled with a labour shortage and mental health challenges is putting immense pressure on our workforce,' said Julie Cressey, General Manager New Zealand, TELUS Health. 'With financial concerns topping the list of personal stress for over half of working people in New Zealand, we're witnessing a significant ripple effect across communities and workplaces. Women and individuals in regions like Waikato and Northland are bearing the brunt of this economic uncertainty, underscoring the critical need for tailored mental health support - a one-size-fits-all approach simply won't suffice in addressing these complex, localised challenges.' Positive work environments significantly impact employee mental health and wellbeing. TELUS Health data highlights this connection: workers in family-friendly workplaces – currently 56 per cent of organisations – report mental health scores of 62.8, more than two points above the national average of 60.6. The effect is even more pronounced among working parents, with those feeling supported by colleagues scoring 64.5. These findings underscore the crucial role workplace culture plays in mental wellbeing. While a supportive environment is foundational, structured wellbeing programmes remain essential to meeting the diverse needs of all employees and ensuring no one is overlooked. The TELUS Mental Health Index also found: Thirty-one per cent of workers say their mental health negatively affects their productivity, with 40 per cent feeling overwhelmed. Financial concerns are the primary source of personal stress for more than half (54 per cent) of employees. Mental health risk affects 37 per cent of workers, with anxiety having the worst Mental Health Index sub-score at 53.4. Parents show significant concern for children's mental health, with scores 7 points below national average. Thirty-five per cent of parents experience guilt over limited family time. High workload ranks as a top workplace stressor for 31 per cent of employees. Women's mental health scores (58.9) trail behind men's (62.4). Family-friendly workplaces show mental health scores 2.2 points above average. 'In an era where financial insecurity and mental health disparities remain prevalent, employers who champion family-friendly workplaces and prioritise employee wellbeing cultivate more engaged teams and drive positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes,' said Paula Allen, Global Leader, Research & Client Insights, TELUS Health. 'Implementing wellbeing strategies that make workers feel supported and cared for is not only beneficial for employees, but crucial for sustaining organisational vitality, fostering a healthy company culture and ultimately driving business success.' In the second quarter of 2025, the mental health scores of workers in various regions were: New Zealand: 60.6 Australia: 63.0 Singapore: 62.9 United Kingdom: 64.7 South Korea: 56.1 Canada: 63.1 United States: 69.9 Europe: 62.4 The Waikato region reported the lowest mental health score (58.0), with Gisborne and Hawke's Bay leading the highest scores in the country (63.2). Northland showed the most improvement, with a 4.7-point increase since January (60.4) and workers on the South Island reported higher mental health scores overall (61.9). The TELUS Mental Health Index is based on a response scoring system that then turns individual responses into point values. Higher point values are associated with better mental health and less mental health risk. Scores between 0 to 49 correspond with distress levels, scores between 50 to 79 correspond with strain levels and scores between 80 to 100 correspond with optimal levels of mental health. This TELUS Mental Health Index includes additional findings related to key psycho-social risks in the workplace, and mental health scores related to industry and other demographics. Read the full New Zealand TELUS Mental Health Index here. As the parent company of TELUS Health, TELUS is committed to supporting the wellbeing of its own team members and their families through a flexible, comprehensive strategy. This approach is powered by the same innovative TELUS Health solutions trusted by Fortune 500 companies and has demonstrated real-world impact, with TELUS achieving a more than 20 per cent reduction in mental health disability claims among its own team members. Organisations can assess their current mental health strategy and get recommendations through TELUS Health's free online assessment tool. About the TELUS Mental Health Index The research report is conducted globally to examine the mental health of employed people in New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Europe. The data for the TELUS Health Mental Health Index was collected through an online survey from March 14 and March 27, 2025, with 1,000 respondents. All respondents reside in New Zealand and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflects this population. About TELUS Health TELUS Health is on a mission to become the most trusted wellbeing company in the world by enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare and championing workplace wellbeing. By integrating advanced healthcare technology with comprehensive employee support services, TELUS Health provides a holistic approach to primary and preventive health and wellbeing enhancing more than 150 million lives across more than 200 countries and territories. Our innovative digital health platforms, including electronic medical records (EMRs) and virtual care solutions, empower healthcare professionals, employers and governments to deliver personalized care efficiently. Our employee wellbeing programs empower individuals by offering extensive support through Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAPs), mental health resources, financial counselling and workplace wellness initiatives. At TELUS Health, we are committed to revolutionizing healthcare to ensure people receive the support they need and employees thrive both personally and professionally. Together, let's make the future friendly.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Scoop
KidsRights Index 2025 Now Available
A devastating global mental health crisis among children and adolescents is reaching critical levels, with suicide the third leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years. According to the KidsRights Index Report 2025 released today, the only ranking that annually and systematically reviews the global state of children's rights worldwide. This year's study highlights that over 14 percent of children and adolescents aged 10-19 years globally are experiencing mental health concerns, with the global average suicide rate standing at 6 per 100,000 among adolescents aged 15-19 years. However, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child warns that these figures represent only the tip of the iceberg, as suicides remain significantly underreported worldwide due to stigma, misclassification, and inadequate reporting mechanisms. Visit the KidsRights Index and the interactive map: Marc Dullaert, KidsRights Founder and Chair, stated that: 'This year's report is a wake-up call that we cannot ignore any longer. The mental health and/or wellbeing crisis among our children has reached a tipping point, exacerbated by the unchecked expansion of social media platforms that prioritize engagement over child safety. The controversy surrounding Netflix's 'Adolescence' in February highlighted global concerns about children's representation and protection in digital media – but we need action, not just outrage". Directly download the full report (PDF): The KidsRights Index is the annual global index published by the KidsRights Foundation which charts how countries adhere to and are equipped to improve children's rights. The KidsRights Index is an initiative of the KidsRights Foundation, in cooperation with Erasmus University Rotterdam: Erasmus School of Economics and the International Institute of Social Studies.
