Abstract:
Although there is a burgeoning body of international research exploring youth stress, coping, and help-seeking, little is known about how New Zealand youth experience these. It is well recognised that young people rarely seek professional help, but how they negotiate support within their peer groups is unclear. The purpose of the current research was to qualitatively explore New Zealand young people’s views and experiences of stress, coping, and seeking help. From a social generation and strengths perspective, this study particularly sought to understand the roles of peers in these processes. Young people aged sixteen to eighteen who were peer support mentors across two Auckland high schools participated in the current study. Thirty-two young people participated in four focus groups, and sixteen of these young people took part in individual interviews. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Young people described social pressures to succeed academically and in the future, expectations to adhere to social and cultural norms, and the stress of adopting responsibilities to care for others in relationships. They explained how they each found ways of coping that worked for them and how they primarily relied on peer groups for support. The young people described preferring to rely on themselves individually or in peer groups, expressing hesitancy to seek help from adults due to stigma, judgement, and a lack of shared understanding and experience. The findings raise important implications for those working with youth in New Zealand. The unhelpful expectations of success and the stigma regarding seeking help need to be addressed. Communities need to facilitate opportunities for young people to develop relationships with adults whom they can access for support once trust and understanding are established. Finally, since peers are integral to the coping and help-seeking processes, young people need to be educated and equipped with the necessary skills and resources regarding stress, mental health, and seeking help.
