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The importance of informal mental health help-seeking for Pacific men in New Zealand

Year:
2021
Duration:
42 months
Approved budget:
$381,402.00
Researchers:
Dr Caleb Marsters
,
Associate Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau
Health issue:
Mental health (and sleep disorders)
Proposal type:
Pacific Health Postdoctoral Fellowship
Lay summary
This study will critically examine the importance of informal mental health help-seeking for Pacific men in New Zealand. Informal help-seeking refers to seeking assistance from social networks such as family, friends, traditional healers, and religious leaders. This study will catalogue Pacific men’s experiences with informal help-seeking for mild-to-moderate mental health challenges, examine the perceived efficacy and importance of informal help-seeking for Pacific men's 'recovery', and explore how informal help-seeking influences formal help-seeking for Pacific men. A mixed-methods approach will be employed. First, the views of mental health experts will be captured using three rounds of Delphi. Next, an online survey and 50 in-depth interviews will be carried out with Pacific men throughout New Zealand to further our understandings around the role of informal help-seeking for mental wellbeing and ‘recovery’. Findings will be shared back to the community and mental health services through publications, a community research colloquium, lectures, and presentations/fono.