Why are our Tamariki (children) depressed, anxious & suicidal? What can we do to help this escalating issue? Read on...
- Nicola Swanson
- Mar 16
- 3 min read
There is an escalating mental health care crisis happening world wide:
1 in 7 aged between 10-19 are living with a diagnosed mental disorder (1)
Depression affects 2-8% of children and adolescents, which increases at puberty (2)
21.2% of 15-24 year olds are suffering from high or very high mental distress, however Maori rates are even higher at 27.9% and 24.6% in Pasifika youth vs 19.6% in European/Pakeha youth (3, 4)
Suicide is the top 5 causes of death for adolescents (1). NZ rates are one of the highest in the developed world (1). Shocking isn't it?
And the mental healthcare services just can't keep up. Doctors are also struggling, with long waiting times.
Yet Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists, which have so many tools to help, still have availability in most clinical practices. We have a government that refuses to regulate us correctly, who won't allow us access to ACC claims, and consequently we are more expensive, which makes it cost inhibitive for many in lower income brackets.
What are some of the causes?
Poor quality diet which is worse with poverty, genetics, exposure to violence and abuse, parenting, schooling, quality of relationships, discrimination and humanitarian or world crises with lockdowns and social isolation, also social media access. I will be touching on diet and herbs.
Poor mental and emotional health can be a bi-product of a poor diet. A 2019 Ministry of Health Study found that 1 in 5 children lived in severe to moderately food-insecure households. This causes lower health outcomes due to a lack of nutrition, obesity, developmental and behavioural issues (3), and I'd add anxiety and depression. Again Māori & Pasifika tamariki rank highest for households that regularly run out of food (35.1% and 39.6%). (5)
Medication concerns
Our tamariki are being overly prescribed mood medications, which have detrimental side effects, including increased risk of suicide (6).
A natural approach
Did you know that there are many herbs that as also effective in treating anxiety and depression? Many have been found in studies to be as effective as medications, with less/no side effects.
Here are some that can be grown in NZ, and are safe with children.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Withania (Withania somnifera).
Some like lemon balm and chamomile have dual benefits for calming the gut.
I also recommend St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum), which is an excellent herb for anxiety and depression.
Some simple suggestions to improve the diet in cost effective ways:
1. Start making your own bread, add seeds.
2. Grow your own vegetables and culinary herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano - these are perennial and antioxidant rich. If you make a green house you can have more all year round.
3. Cut back on meat and increase vegetables and legumes. If you buy dried legumes (beans, peas, lentils, etc.) you will save a lot of money. You can also use these to bulk out normally meat dishes since as bolognaise.
4. Learn how to fish, to get access to all kinds of seafood.
5. Avoid processed meals and foods, and make from scratch.
6. Teach your children to grow food and cook, so it reduces cooking and preparation time. This will pay dividends for their future too.
7. Start fermenting your own vegetables and make kombucha tea or kefir drinks.
8. Attend Crop Swop and Seed Sharing meetings.
9. Create a group with friends where you each take responsibility for making something and share it.
10. Learn how to preserve food. Buy it when its cheap and in season.
11. Avoid sugar (drinks and foods), refined carbohydrates (white pasta, bread, rice), seed oils, deep fried and processed foods as much as possible. These all deeply affect our health and emotional wellbeing.
If you would like to book an appointment with me for your young person or child, simply click on the link below.
Shine bright,
Nic
References:
1. UNICEF. The State of the World's Children 2021; On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children's mental health [Internet]. 2021, October. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-worlds-children-2021
2. Hazell P. Depression in children and adolescents: complementary therapies. BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1008.
3. Rasmussen PL, New Zealand’s Woeful Mental Health Statistics for Young People. www.herbblurb.com Aug 23, 2019.
4. Fleming T, Tiatia-Seath J, Peiris-John R, et al. Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey, initial findings: Hauora hinengaro/emotional and mental health. 2020. The Youth19 Research Group, The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
5. Ministry of Health / Manatu Hauora. Household Food Insecurity among Children: New Zealand Health Survey [Internet]. 2019, June 12. Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/household-food-insecurity-among-children-new-zealand-health-survey
6. Zainal NH. Is combined antidepressant medication (ADM) and psychotherapy better than either monotherapy at preventing suicide attempts and other psychiatric serious adverse events for depressed patients? A rare events meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 2024;54(3):457-472.
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