Lay summary
While some research to date has provided much needed insight into the mental health needs and subsequent service use of Maori more broadly, little is known about the prevalence of mental health disorders or service uptake in West Auckland specifically. This research proposes to investigate health needs data analysis specifically based on mental health, with the aim of finding out what the West Auckland Maori community needs and wants in regards to treatment paradigms. The idea of a “kaupapa Maori” service model within mental health, and in particular within models of psychological therapy, is one that substantially lacks research direction – this project aims to fill that gap through analysis of secondary data, consultation and engagement with whanau, as well as a survey of any already established kaupapa Maori based services, in order to inform the establishment of a targeted and effective service for whanau by Maori health providers.