New Zealand Asian Wellbeing, Bullying & Mental Health Survey 2025
Tracks
Ballroom 2 - In-Person Only
| Wednesday, June 24, 2026 |
| 1:10 PM - 1:30 PM |
Overview
Darcy Zhao, Asian Family Services
Presenter
Darcy Zhao
Asian Family Services
New Zealand Asian Wellbeing, Bullying & Mental Health Survey 2025
Presentation Overview
The 2025 New Zealand Asian Well-being and Mental Health Survey reveals a deepening crisis among Asian communities in Aotearoa, shaped by systemic inequities, discrimination, and declining life satisfaction. Commissioned by Asian Family Services (AFS) and conducted by Trace Research, this is the largest national survey dedicated to Asian mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings from 1,273 respondents highlight stark realities. Over half (57%) are at risk of depression, with young adults, women, Koreans, and Indians disproportionately impacted. Life satisfaction has fallen by more than 11% since 2021, and only 57% of respondents feel a sense of belonging. Alarmingly, nearly half of Asian parents report their children experiencing school bullying, while expressing low confidence in schools’ ability to respond effectively.
Discrimination remains pervasive, with 80% of those reporting unfair treatment attributing it to race or ethnicity. At the same time, barriers to mental health support persist, driven by stigma, language difficulties, and the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services. These structural gaps leave many Asian New Zealanders underserved, unseen, and at risk.
AFS remains committed to amplifying Asian voices and advocating for equity in mental health, especially for our children and youth. This report is not only a set of findings but a call to action for policymakers, service providers, and community leaders to co-design solutions that foster belonging and well-being for all Asian communities.
This study underscores that as Aotearoa becomes more diverse, equity in mental health will depend on services that are not only accessible but meaningfully inclusive of Asian voices and experiences.
Three Key Learnings
1. Structural and cultural barriers remain major obstacles, with services often failing to feel relevant or safe for Asian communities.
2. A dual focus on adults and children is needed, as family dynamics and intergenerational experiences strongly shape wellbeing.
3. Embedding cultural responsiveness through language access, community engagement, and recognition of stigma significantly increases trust and uptake.
Findings from 1,273 respondents highlight stark realities. Over half (57%) are at risk of depression, with young adults, women, Koreans, and Indians disproportionately impacted. Life satisfaction has fallen by more than 11% since 2021, and only 57% of respondents feel a sense of belonging. Alarmingly, nearly half of Asian parents report their children experiencing school bullying, while expressing low confidence in schools’ ability to respond effectively.
Discrimination remains pervasive, with 80% of those reporting unfair treatment attributing it to race or ethnicity. At the same time, barriers to mental health support persist, driven by stigma, language difficulties, and the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services. These structural gaps leave many Asian New Zealanders underserved, unseen, and at risk.
AFS remains committed to amplifying Asian voices and advocating for equity in mental health, especially for our children and youth. This report is not only a set of findings but a call to action for policymakers, service providers, and community leaders to co-design solutions that foster belonging and well-being for all Asian communities.
This study underscores that as Aotearoa becomes more diverse, equity in mental health will depend on services that are not only accessible but meaningfully inclusive of Asian voices and experiences.
Three Key Learnings
1. Structural and cultural barriers remain major obstacles, with services often failing to feel relevant or safe for Asian communities.
2. A dual focus on adults and children is needed, as family dynamics and intergenerational experiences strongly shape wellbeing.
3. Embedding cultural responsiveness through language access, community engagement, and recognition of stigma significantly increases trust and uptake.
Biography
Darcy Zhao is Senior Practice Leader for AWS and Asian Integrated Wellbeing Services at Asian Family Services, where she provides strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for culturally responsive mental health services for Asian youth and adults across New Zealand. She is a registered social worker with the Social Workers Registration Board and holds a Master of Applied Social Work from Massey University. Darcy has extensive experience in community mental health, dual diagnosis rehabilitation, and culturally responsive wellbeing services, and is committed to advancing equitable access to high-quality, evidence-informed mental health and wellbeing services for Asian populations in New Zealand.
