Lay summary
In New Zealand, specialist mental health and addiction service users (SMHAS-users) experience reduced life expectancy and greater morbidity than the general population. Māori SMHAS-users experience disproportionate health inequities. Poor outcomes are frequently attributed to comorbidities or lifestyle, but structural factors, such as ‘siloes’ between different parts of our health system, are also important. To improve SMHAS-users' outcomes, integrated (‘joined up’) care has been called for in He Ara Oranga and elsewhere. We have developed and pre-tested two measures of integrated care for SMHAS-users (JUST) and -staff (JUST-Staff). We will use these measures in two larger surveys of Te Whatu Ora–Southern’s SMHAS-users and staff to: 1) assess their psychometric performance, and 2) understand how they relate to health and wellbeing outcomes, before recommending their wider use throughout New Zealand. Additionally, two qualitative studies (including a Kaupapa Māori Study) will provide rich insights into approaches, mechanisms and processes supporting integrated care.