Media Release
20 September 2006
Status of Maori Mental Health Launched by Ministry of Health
A survey looking at the mental health of New Zealanders provides valuable information for those planning and delivering Maori mental health services.
Te Rau Hinengaro - The New Zealand Mental Health Survey involved interviews with close to 13,000 people in 2004, including nearly 2,600 Maori. The survey is the first in New Zealand to provide estimates of the prevalence of mental disorders among the adult population of different ethnic groups, including Maori.
One of the Maori research team members of Te Rau Hinengaro, Dr Rees Tapsell, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Auckland Forensic Psychiatry Services, Waitemata District Health Board and clinical lecturer, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, says,”Te Rau Hinengaro found that 29.5% of Maori surveyed had a mental disorder in the previous twelve months, compared to 19.3% of the Other population group. Maori were also less likely than the Other population group to make contact with health services for mental health reasons. Further analyses of Maori mental health are set to be carried out in the near future."
There are high levels of severity of mental disorder amongst Maori. Nearly a third of Maori with disorder were classified as serious but less than half of these had any contact with health care services for their mental health problems. This reflects an unmet need within our community which is a very real issue and something that needs addressing, says Dr Tapsell.
He says, “Maori have different needs than the Other population group and Pacific peoples. The most common 12 month disorders among Maori were anxiety disorders (19.4%), mood disorders (11.4%) and substance use disorders (8.6%). After adjusting for age, sex and socioeconomic correlates, differences remain between Maori and Pacific people for mood disorders and substance use disorders and between Maori and Others for substance use disorder.
“Having two mental disorders is common amongst Maori, not only for those who have two mental disorders or more but those who have a mental disorder with a physical/chronic problem. Maori also have high levels of suicidal thinking, behaviours and suicidal planning, especially amongst younger people. All other things being equal*, Maori had higher levels of suicidal thinking (3.8% compared to 3.1% for the other population) were more likely to have made a suicide plan (1.3% compared to 0.8% of the Other population) and more likely to have made a suicide attempt ( 0.7% compared to 0.3% of the Other population group).This is a concerning finding that Maori are more than twice as likely to make a suicide attempt than the Other population group and one that also needs further investigation.”
Dr Rees Tapsell says, “the Ministry of Health has given a priority for developing mental health services for Maori. The information from Te Rau Hinengaro gives us greater information to support that and allows the Ministry to focus on how Maori can be better served within the Primary Health Care strategy.”
(* after adjusting for age, sex, educational qualification and household income)
ENDS
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Acknowledgments
The Maori Research Team Members of the survey are as follows:
Dr Joanne Baxter MBchB, MPH, FAFPHM (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mamoe, Waitaha), Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow, Maori Health, Ngai Tahu Maori Health Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Dr Te Kani Kingi PhD, PGDipMDev, DipTM (Ngati Pukeko, Ngati Awa), Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Te Pumanawa Hauora, Research Centre for Maori Health and Development, Massey University, Wellington.
Dr Rees Tapsell MBChB FRANZCP Grad Cert Clin Teaching (Te Arawa), Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Auckland Regional Forensic Psychiatry Services, Waitemata District Health Board and clinical lecturer, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland.
Members of the Kaitaiki group for the survey are as follows –
Ana Sokratov, Consumer Advisor, Waitemata District Health Board, Bevan Taylor, Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc, Brian Emery, Management Consultant, Brian Emery and Associates, Kore Rogers, Mid Central District Health Board, Makere Wano, Kuia, Te Rau Pani, New Plymouth, Ngaire Whata, Chief Executive, Korowai Aroha Health Centre, Te Hira Moana Wharenui, Kaumatua, Mental Health Services, Counties Manukau District Health Board, For further information please phone Dr Rees Tapsell on 09 815 5861 or Victoria Evans, Media Advisor, Ministry of Health, 04 496 2036 or 021 802 622