Health Ministry documents reveal the mental health system dealing with young people is under significant pressure

Just 35 per cent of young people are seen within 48 hours, compared with more than half of adults.

In the past decade, the numbers of young people turning up to ED in mental health distress have risen 177 percent.

Starship Hospital Child Psychiatrist and Paediatrician Doctor Hiran Thabrew says such issues usually start in late adolescence or early adulthood.

He says that group is particularly vulnerable to developing mental health problems and the Covid-19 pandemic has placed more pressure on them, alongside existing developmental stresses.