Lay summary
New Zealand responded to an unprecedented globally increased refugee crisis by increasing its refugees’ quota and allowing their families to settle in Aotearoa. Despite this increase, and refugee sector concerns regarding challenges in delivering mental health support to this highly understudied population, particularly children and youth, we have a lack of epidemiological research aimed at pinpointing main needs and service gaps, and potential interventions to address them. Our population-based analyses of administrative data signal high needs in mental health service utilisation in refugees. By forming an interdisciplinary team of researchers spanning mental health, public policy, social sciences, and economics, we initiated connections with mental health service providers in the sector and refugee youth NGOs. This project aims to foster and strengthen this connection and further collaborations between stakeholders to identify research gaps and design studies that inform policies which help improving service provision and hence wellbeing for refugee children and youth.