Media Release

20 September 2006

Mental Health of Pacific People Published by the Ministry of Health

Results of a national mental health survey commissioned by the Ministry of Health have shown the mental health and wellbeing status of Pacific people for the very first time.

Te Rau Hinengaro - The New Zealand Mental Health Survey was undertaken in 2004, with close to 13,000 people asked about their mental health and wellbeing, including more than 2000 Pacific people.

Dr Siale Foliaki, a member of the Pacific research team for Te Rau Hinengaro, says for the first time, we have results from a national survey to provide information about the mental health and wellbeing of Pacific people living in New Zealand.

"Pacific people experience mental health issues more than the general population. Te Rau Hinengaro has found that 25% of Pacific people had experienced a mental disorder of any severity in the past 12 months, compared to 20.7% of the total New Zealand population.”

Dr Foliaki says, "there is a concern about the low rates of visits to mental health services for Pacific people. Only 25% of Pacific people with a serious mental disorder had a mental health visit in the health care sector in the previous twelve months. Te Rau Hinengaro shows that 58% of the total New Zealand population with serious disorders had a mental health care visit, more than double that of Pacific peoples."

He says although this is the first survey of its kind in New Zealand, it paints a clear picture on the prevalence of mental disorder amongst New Zealanders, however it does not tell us why this is so. Further research is underway to look at specific questions this survey raises. For Pacific people this includes finding out why there are low rates of health service use by Pacific people, which is a significant issue for those planning mental health services in New Zealand.

Te Rau Hinengaro also shows that 31.4% of New Zealand-born Pacific people had a 12-month prevalence of any mental health disorder compared with 15% of Pacific people who migrated here after the age of 18. Dr Foliaki says this is another area that needs further investigation. “This is a very real issue for the Pacific Research Group of Te Rau Hinengaro.”

Dr Foliaki says because the Pacific population is a youthful population, information contained in Te Rau Hinengaro helps the Ministry of Health to continue its strategic approach to mental health services which focus on services that address the needs of Pacific people.

ENDS

Acknowledgements

The Pacific Research Team Members of Te Rau Hinengaro – The New Zealand Mental Health Survey are as follows:

Dr Siale Foliaki MBChB, Psychiatric Registrar, Pacific Mental Health Services, Counties Manukau District Health Board

Jesse Kokaua MSc, Research Analyst, Mental Health Directorate, Ministry of Health

Dr David Schaaf PhD, Pacific Health/Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health sciences, University of Auckland.

The Pacific Advisory Group for Te Rau Hinengaro – Te New Zealand Mental Health survey are as follows –

Dr David Schaaf, University of Auckland, Reverend Feiloaiga Taule-ale-ausumai, Francis Agnew, Consultant Psychiatrist, Fuimaono Karl Pulotu-Endemann, Pacific Health Consultant, Alo-o-Tuatagaloa, Hemiquaver Lesatele, Mental Health Alcohol and Drugs Service Manager, Pacific Trust Canterbury, Lina-Jodi Vaine Samu, Tuiloma, Whariki: Whaiora & Family/Whanau Services, Sefita Hao’uli, Communications Consultant Radio 531PI, Vito Malo (Nonumalo), Portfolio Manager, Capital and Coast District Health Board

For further information please contact Dr Siale Foliaki on 09 270 9994 or Victoria Evans, Media Advisor, Ministry of Health, 04 496 2036 or 021 802 622