Lay summary
The aims of the project are to identify the specific cultural and acculturative factors that make some Pacific people vulnerable to mental illness and others resilient to mental illness. We will identify these factors and use them to help identify specific ways in which mental health services can be modified to better meet the cultural needs of Pacific consumers. The study will utilise a mixed methods design employing a quantitative survey of approximately 500 Pacific women and 500 Pacific men, followed by individual in-depth interviews with a sub-sample of these women and men to explore in detail some of the broader patterns and associations identified in the quantitative survey. This study will plug a known research gap and build a strong evidence base upon which to inform mental health policy and practice in order to achieve more equitable health outcomes between Pacific and non-Pacific peoples.