Youth of Indian descent in New Zealand are regarded as highly vulnerable to mental health issues and have, for example, reported a high prevalence of depression. Experiences of stress/coping can be viewed as intertwined with the social, cultural, and familial contexts which shape them. Internationally, studies of stress/coping within this group have lacked in-depth exploration of the social and cultural context of experiences. Within New Zealand, Asian youth mental health has tended to be explored as a whole, and without disaggregation of issues, notions, and practices relevant to particular groups and cultures.

This study adopted a social constructionism paradigm and narrative methodology to explore the experiences of stress/coping among the youth of Indian descent. Fourteen youth (14-18 years) were purposefully sampled, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted (via face-to-face and/or zoom), audiotaped, and transcribed verbatim. Out of 14 youth, seven were born in New Zealand and seven were born in India before migrating to New Zealand.

Participants shared various stressors experienced, including identity issues, stereotypes, racism and bullying, balancing the cultures, pressure from peers and parents, and social media. Common coping strategies expressed by youth were ignoring the situation, extra-curricular activities, and accepting the situation.. Furthermore, the barriers to seeking professional help, and the support required from parents and counselors to cope with stress were highlighted by the youth. These initial findings suggest that youth of Indian descent face many stressors, and while they acknowledge the need to seek help, there are still some apprehensions.