Pacific Mental Health Survey

Understanding the burden of mental health disorders across the Pacific region to support further research, policy, and workforce development at a country level.

The Need
Mental health has been identified as a priority to address for the Pacific Islands region. Currently, there is limited epidemiological evidence to understand the burden of mental health in our Pacific countries and anecdotes suggest increasing rates of mental health distress, disorders and suicide. These are only expected to increase with the climate crisis in conjunction with the advent and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research project works to investigate mental health challenges in the Pacific region. It will support Pacific countries to gather evidence of the burden of mental health disorders, in order to help assess existing policies and identify workforce capacity needs at a country level.

Approach
The University of Auckland in partnership with experts in Pacific mental health secured funding to undertake a Pacific Mental Health Survey in Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. The collaborative initiative is being co-designed with Pacific health and research professionals, actively engaging the governments and workforces of each country. Following project engagement, the ownership of the project will be fully transferred to Pacific countries. Ultimately, it aims to develop country-led, sustainable and lasting responses to address mental health disorders, while also growing and nurturing local capability and capacity in the process.

The project has started in Samoa, and is now making its way to the Kingdom of Tonga and Tuvalu. 

Research Aims

• Determine the prevalence of various mental disorders among the general adult population.
• Determine key risk factors associated with mental disorder prevalence.
• Measure disorder severity and functional impairment associated with mental disorders.
• Ascertain patterns of mental health services utilisation, types of treatment being accessed, and perceived need for and barriers to treatment.

“Pacific people have managed their wellbeing and mental health on their own or with the help of their family, churches or the village. However, for many years, those of us who work in health have recognised that we don’t know well enough the extent and nature of mental health disorders around the region. We are working to change that.” – Sir Collin Tukuitonga, Principal Investigator

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