Report reveals mental health crisis among Asian communities

A new report has revealed a deepening mental health crisis among Asian communities, driven by structural barriers, discrimination, and declining life satisfaction.

The '2025 New Zealand Asian Well-being and Mental Health Survey', commissioned by Asian Family Services and conducted by Trace Research is the largest national survey focused on the mental health of Asian New Zealanders since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over half (57.2%) of Asian New Zealanders are at risk of depression, with young adults, women, Koreans, and Indians most affected. Life satisfaction has declined by over 11%.

Alarmingly, nearly half of Asian parents report school bullying of their children, with low confidence in schools’ ability to respond.

Discrimination remains a major issue, with 80% of those who experienced unfair treatment citing race or ethnicity as the reason. Meanwhile, access to mental health services remains limited due to stigma, language barriers, and lack of culturally appropriate support.

The findings highlight the urgent need for culturally responsive services, anti-bullying efforts, and systemic action against racism.

This report is a call to action for policy-makers, service providers, and community leaders to work together toward a more inclusive future

Read the report HERE

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