Mā tō tātou whanaungatanga e whakataki i te ritenga tika : Māori mental health service engagement : a narrative woven by tāngata whaiora, whānau members, and Māori kaimahi : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
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Date
2020
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Massey University
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Abstract
Uplifting Māori mental wellbeing is a priority in Aotearoa with major national studies revealing Māori experience persistent and growing disparities in mental health outcomes. Notably, the mental health sector lacks explanations for the significant finding that Māori seek less help from mental health services despite the prevalence of psychological problems.
Following a Kaupapa Māori Research approach, this research sought to understand why service engagement was incommensurate with mental wellbeing needs among pakeke Māori and offer recommendations for how mental health practice could evolve to address this outcome. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with five tāngata whaiora, three whānau members, and four Māori kaimahi. The perspectives of these three rōpū were privileged as they reflected those with lived experience of engaging with, or carrying out mahi in, mental health services. Interview kōrero was analysed and developed into themes using thematic analysis. The collective perspectives of tāngata whaiora, whānau members, and Māori kaimahi were integrated within a narrative about how mental health care experiences influenced Māori service engagement.
Findings spoke to the importance of practicing within Te Ao Māori which involved upholding tikanga and mātauranga Māori, acknowledging cultural identity, facilitating reconnection with Māoritanga, and being whānau-centred in mental health care; developing genuine and meaningful relationships with tāngata whaiora and whānau; encouraging openness, support, and literacy around mental wellbeing; empowering Māori voices in assessment and intervention; and appropriate mental health sector resourcing. This research can help the mental health sector begin to understand why Māori seek less help from services and provide culturally and clinically responsive solutions for how mental health practice can support and improve service engagement to uplift Māori mental wellbeing.
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Maori (New Zealand people), Mental health services, Attitudes, New Zealand, Hauora hinengaro, Tāngata whenua, Tuku ratonga, Māori Doctoral Thesis