Family financial stress is having a major impact on Rotorua teenagers' mental health, a local doctor warns.
"We're really aware that the economy is having a big impact on the lives of young people and the difficult situations of their family," said Rotovegas Youth Health clinical leader Tania Pinfold.
"We're frequently seeing anxiety and depression leading to young people struggling to deal with other everyday stress."
Her comments followed the release of Auckland University's Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey, which surveyed 8500 Kiwi secondary students on issues including education, health and economic wellbeing.
While it showed a significant drop in the number of teenagers using marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes, depression, bullying and financial stress in families had increased.