Cherish the Va & Strengthen Pacific Well Being

Dr Monique Niumata Faleafa, September 2009

SPINZ National Symposium: Culture & Suicide Prevention in Aotearoa

The NZ Mental Health Study: Te Rau Hinengaro largest mental health study ever undertaken in NZ.

Other, 17.50

Tonga, 16.50

Cook Islands, 20.70

Samoa, 49.20

n = 2,374

High Rates of Mental Disorder

25

20.7%

0

5

10

15

20

25

Pacific Gen Pop

pacific people carry a higher burden of mental disorder than New Zealanders in general

Higher rates of hazardous alcohol abuse

3.7

2.6

3.4

1.3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Abuse Dependence

Pacific

Gen Pop

Our Young People are bearing the burden

Cumulative lifetime risk by disorder

Our Young People are bearing the burden NZ born Pacific had a significantly higher 12 month prevalence

of mental disorder, than those born in the islands who migrated to New Zealand over the age of 18

31.4

15

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

NZ born Pacific born

Low rates of access

25%

58%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Pacific Gen Pop

12-month access rate

Higher rates of suicide ideation and attempts

General Population

Pacific Population

Lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation

15.7% 16.9%

Lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts

4.5% 4.8%

12-month prevalence of suicide attempts

0.4% 1.2%

Suicidality is high High prevalence, low access Demand for a clinically and culturally competent

workforce Grow the workforce of today for the challenges we

face tomorrow

The bubble is coming…

Le Va – the space that relates

Vibrant Leadership & well Pacific families

Creating space for mental well being

western worldviews – western knowledge systems, epistemology, theoretical underpinnings, cultural paradigms,

pedagogy

pacific worldviews – indigenous knowledge systems, epistemology, theoretical underpinnings, cultural paradigms,

pedagogy

community and context

organisation

practitioner

family

person

therapeuticrelationshipnegotiated spaceva

Culture in Leadership – Le Tautua Emerging Leaders

Matutaki – engaging young people

A long-term recruitment strategy that engages young Pacific people to consider a career in mental health

“Our Va with others defines us.We can only be ourselves linked to everyone and everything else in the va, the unity that is all and now.”

Albert Wendt

www.leva.co.nz