Mental health study for children and young people in care

This study is an important opportunity to understand and help improve mental health support for children and young people in care.

Between April and June 2026, caregivers of selected 5 to17 year old children in care will be contacted by the University research team to take part in the study.

Caregivers will answer questions about a child or young person in their care. Young people aged 12 to 17 will also be invited to answer survey questions themselves.

Participation is voluntary.

All information is confidential, and no one will be identified in the research data or reporting.  

For more information, please email mentalhealthstudy@ot.govt.nz

If you do not want the child or young person you have guardianship of to be in the study, please email mentalhealthstudy@ot.govt.nz within 5 days of receiving the text or email from Oranga Tamariki.

Please put:

1. ‘opt out’ in the subject line, and
2. your full name and cell phone number in the email.

We need this information to know which child to remove from the study sample.