7 May, 2025

Youth MP focuses on mental health

Shore voices… North Shore MP Simon Watts with his electorate’s Youth MP, Chelsea Brown

A newly selected Youth MP for North Shore is keen to use the platform to raise issues about youth mental health and encourage young people to realise they can have a voice.
Chelsea Brown, the co-head girl at Carmel College, was chosen from 18 applicants by North Shore MP Simon Watts to take up the annual opportunity.
As part of this she will attend a two-day Youth Parliament event in Wellington on 1-2 July, alongside other youth representatives chosen by MPs from throughout the country.
“I was impressed by Chelsea’s determination and commitment to serve our community.” Watts said.
In her interview she spoke about the importance of having an accessible youth mental health system and helping others.
Chelsea, aged 17, told the Observer she considers herself fortunate to have been given the opportunity.
“I hope to serve my community well throughout this Youth Parliament tenure.”
In turn, she hoped this would show other young people they could have a more prominent voice and participate in politics.
Mental health awareness was a focus for her, she said, because she had seen first hand the way young people could struggle with reaching out for help. “Supporting friends can be tough when you aren’t sure on how to help.” Rangatahi need to be educated in how to get help and to give it, she believes.
“I feel that a lot of the key stresses for young people in Aotearoa has to do with the algorithms they consume on social media.
“Mindset matters, and when you are already struggling it is really hard to separate your struggles from being normalised if that is what you are consuming on a daily basis,” she said.
“Ultimately, balance is the hard part of growing up as it can be a challenge to balance your school work, social life, family life and the drive to your own goals.”
After she finishes school this year, Chelsea is considering a potential career path in business, law or politics. “There is so much available, but I know that I want to work in a space with lots of collaboration with other people and problem-solving.”
With her already keen interest in politics, she is looking forward to seeing this in action in Parliament. She also likes the idea of collaborating with other similarly passionate Youth MPs and making connections across the country.
“This opportunity to be in Parliament and find realistic ways of improving awareness really drew me to the role, particularly as I love debating, communicating with others and pursuing a solution.”
The aim of the Youth MP programme is twofold: an opportunity for participants to understand the political process and for them to represent youth views at Parliament.

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