Loto Malie (Contented Heart) : understanding Pacific youth mental wellbeing : a thesis by publication presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
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Date
2024
DOI
Open Access Location
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Massey University
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© The Author
Abstract
The voices and perspectives of Pacific young people can often be overlooked, yet they are instrumental in shaping the future of today’s society; their voices need to be amplified. Pacific youth, a diverse and vibrant group in Aotearoa New Zealand, are facing growing mental health concerns and are less likely than youth of other ethnicities to seek psychological help due to stigma and a lack of mental health awareness. The paucity of culturally appropriate psychological interventions may contribute to Pacific youth’s reluctance to seek help. The Ministry of Health has encouraged the implementation of Pacific worldviews when promoting the wellbeing of Pacific youth. This study aimed to contribute to the development of new knowledge in Pacific Mental health research and psychological interventions for Pacific youth. To date, there has been limited published research on psychological approaches which integrate spirituality, culture and a digital intervention for promoting mental wellbeing in Pacific youth. This research explores Pacific youth’s experiences of engaging with mental health tools, specifically a Pacific mental health intervention developed for the very purpose of meeting the needs of Pacific youth, Loto Malie (contented heart).
In exploring youth experiences and perspectives on mental health, prioritising Pacific-Indigenous knowledge in the research methodology was fundamental. Consequently, the Fa’afaletui and Talanoa frameworks, which draw on Pacific-Indigenous methodologies, provided culturally sound processes for engagement with Pacific youth which allowed them to share their stories and experiences authentically. The findings highlight the key themes that formulate and conceptualise the Loto Malie therapeutic framework, revealing the importance of interweaving culture and spirituality within the therapeutic environment, especially as this strengthened Pacific youth engagement with this approach. At the outset, the aim of this PhD was to explore digital mental health tools with youth, given the low uptake of such tools specifically among Pacific youth. The primary researcher developed an innovative cultural digital mental health intervention, Loto Malie 2.0 Mukbang + mental health, as an interim measure during the pandemic. This innovative approach was shared privately (upon invitation) via YouTube and Facebook. Loto Malie 2.0 aimed to provide accessible cultural and clinical examples that promoted mental health awareness and meaningful connections with the viewers, who were predominantly young adults. Overall, developing the Loto Malie programme and Loto Malie 2.0 allowed young people to attain mental health knowledge and equipped them with relevant tools for wellbeing improvement. Therefore, this newfound knowledge and wisdom provided initial evidence that Pacific youth engage effectively with mental health tools when they are grounded in a Pacific therapeutic approach embedded within their worldviews. The Loto Malie therapeutic framework aims to serve as a guide for Pacific therapeutic approaches to enhance the overall wellbeing of Pacific youth.
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Keywords
Pacific Islanders, Youth, Mental health, Mental health services, New Zealand, Citizen participation, Pacific youth, Pacific mental wellbeing, Pacific mental health research, Pacific youth wellbeing