Starship have launched a youth mental health app as self-harm events abound young people spike.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, admissions of children and adolescents to hospital following self-harm events have increased by 25 percent in the 15-19 year age group and 50 percent in the 10-14 year age group.  

Over 5600 young people presented to hospital emergency departments around the country with self-harm in 2021 alone.

Founded on the premise that it takes a village to raise a child, the app is designed to help rangatahi take control of their mental well-being by connecting them with a network of trusted individuals, friends or whānau, called “buddies”.

Starship Child Psychiatrist and Paediatrician Dr Hiran Thabrew joined Kerre Woodham.

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