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This article presents a description of a specific Indigenous research methodology, Kaupapa Māori Research (KMR), followed by a discussion of the potential contribution that KMR and other Indigenous frameworks make toward understanding and addressing widespread mental health inequities affecting the world's Indigenous peoples. The contribution of existing qualitative KMR to the fields of health and mental health in New Zealand is discussed, and innovative approaches employed within these studies will be outlined. This paper describes the utility of KMR methodology which informed the development of qualitative interviews and the adaptation of an analytic framework used to explore the impact of systems on the experiences of Māori (the Indigenous peoples of New Zealand) with bipolar disorder (BD). This paper adds to others published in this journal that describe the value, inherent innovation, and transformative potential of KMR methodologies to inform future qualitative research with Indigenous peoples and to enact systemic change. Transformation is achieved by privileging the voices of Māori describing their experiences of mental health systems; presenting their expert critique to those responsible for the design and delivery of mental health services; and ensuring equal weight is given to exploring the clinical, structural and organizational changes required to achieve health equity. It is proposed that this approach to research praxis is required to ensure that studies do not perpetuate institutional racism, which requires close adherence to Indigenous research priorities and partnership with Indigenous peoples in all steps of the research process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivery to Pacific peoples by exploring Pacific psychologists' perspectives. The research was qualitative in its approach, using the Pacific methodology of "talanoa." The study carried out two face-to-face focus-group interviews using the talanoa method. Initially, nine participants expressed their interest in the study. However, five participants did not attend the interviews. Three participants participated in the first focus group discussion, and one participant participated in the second focus group, which resulted in an individual interview. All four participants were clinically trained psychologists, with an average of 14 years of clinical experience. These participants worked continuously with Pacific service users in various mental health settings and private practice. The need to enhance the compatibility of CBTwith the culture of Pacific peoples was highlighted throughout the study. From the psychologists' perspectives, there were significant challenges regarding the delivery of CBTamong Pacific peoples. These included: accessibility barriers due to socioeconomic and financial stressors; funding constraints and the availability and affordability of therapy sessions; the appropriateness of treatment that needed to be tailored to suit Pacific peoples; and the lack of spiritual and cultural aspects of treatment. The results of the study provide preliminary validation for the efficacy of CBT among Pacific peoples. There is an increasing awareness that delivering culturally relevant and appropriate care to Pacific peoples living in New Zealand requires a deeper understanding of valuing the realities and unique experiences they bring both collectively and individually. Ultimately, the findings provide significant insight into the barriers to the efficacy of CBT and strategies to overcome these. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted many health and mental health conditions experienced by veterans may be prevented or reduced in severity through early primary health-care intervention, yet research suggests high levels of health-care avoidance in this population. The aim of this study was to examine the meanings military personnel attached to health and how these impacted health-care utilization. To achieve this, 50 hours of primary interview data were obtained from 13 Australian Army combat personnel undergoing rehabilitation, which were thematically analyzed. Results support previous findings that engagement with health-care services was perceived to negatively impact career and deployment opportunities; however, these issues were marginal to perceptions of losing personal agency when engaging with the health-care system for physical and psychological concerns, which resulted in mistrust of it. We argue issues of mistrust underscore health-care avoidance in the military and recommend primary health-care principles be incorporated into to garrison health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]