Fewer children and teens were treated by specialist mental health services last year.

Briefings to the Prime Minister show the Health Ministry flagged concerns about the ability to keep up with rising demand last September.

A senior official says pressures from Covid and workforce issues has likely seen services balance taking on new referrals with their ability to operate.

Otago University Senior Paediatrics Lecturer Dame Sue Bagshaw told Tim Dower issues are being medicalised.

She says we tend to see a doctor, when a youth worker may be more useful.

Bagshaw says the issues they're seeing are the same but they're being amplified by social media.

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