As the month-long lockdown to combat coronavirus looms for New Zealand, concerns are being raised for the nation's most vulnerable youth.
While New Zealand police anticipate a spike in domestic violence in the coming weeks, Upside Youth Mentoring Aotearoa (formerly Brothers in Arms), a service that links youth in need to volunteer mentors for support and guidance, is preparing for an increased need for mentors.
The service, which has been matching young people with mentors since 2006, has highlighted that especially in times of stress and fear, children need positive adult role models. Statistics from last year showed 15 per cent of the young people the organisation works with were battling disabling anxiety, 22 per cent were self-harming and more than a third were deemed low to medium suicide risk.
They note that being isolated is the worst-case scenario for the youth they work with.
