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Background: Eating disorders are as common in Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa-New Zealand, as they are in non-Māori; however, research has focused on the experiences of non-Māori. This paper will describe explanatory factors, treatment experiences and what helps with recovery for Māori., Methods: Kaupapa Māori research methodology informed the methods and analysis. Fifteen semi-structured interviews comprised thirteen Māori participants with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder) and two whānau (support network) members. A thematic analysis was undertaken by a first cycle of coding that used deductive structural coding to identify data describing participants' perceived causes of eating disorders, their experience of treatment and recovery. A second cycle of coding used inductive analysis with descriptive and pattern coding., Results: Three overarching themes were antecedents (cumulative exposure), treatment (a system of complexities) and recovery (resource empowerment). Antecedents comprised cumulative exposure to body and sporting ideals and adversity as causal factors of eating disorders. In the treatment theme, a system of complexities critiqued rural settings for generalised mental health services, allocation of Māori cultural support, the economic burden of treatment, culturally incongruent treatment (methods, values) and a weight-focused discharge criterion. Recovery (resource empowerment) found appropriate health information, self-determination and connection to Māori culture and whānau aspirations helped with recovery., Conclusion: The diversity of birdcalls reminds us of the individuality of eating disorders. Health practitioners are reminded that just as the Tūī, Kākā and Kererū possess their own unique birdcalls, so do Māori with eating disorders and their whānau have their own experiences, needs and required treatment responses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: Lifetime prevalence rates in Te Rau Hinengaro (The New Zealand Mental Health Survey) suggest eating disorders are at least as common in the Māori population as the non-Māori population, yet little is known at a population level about those accessing specialist mental health treatment for eating disorders in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to describe the population undergoing specialist mental health treatment for eating disorders and compare Māori and non-Māori clinical characteristics and service use., Method: This study uses the Programme for the Integration of Mental Health Data data set, managed by the New Zealand Ministry of Health to describe the characteristics of people with eating disorders and their use of specialist mental health services from 2009 to 2016., Results: There were 3,835 individuals with a diagnosed eating disorder who had contact with specialist mental health services in this time period, 7% of whom were Māori. Within the cohort, Māori had a higher prevalence for a bulimia nervosa diagnosis, fewer diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, and a higher prevalence of other psychiatric comorbidity than non-Māori., Discussion: There is discrepancy between the proportion of service users accessing specialist mental health services who are Māori and the assessed crude prevalence of eating disorders for Māori in national estimates. Once Māori are in specialist services; however, their use of services is comparable to non-Māori. Further research is needed to highlight the experiences of those Māori with eating disorders and address barriers to accessing services for Māori with eating disorders., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aims: There is very little empirical evidence about the relationship between severe mental illness and the physical health of Indigenous peoples. This paper aims to compare the physical health of Māori and non-Māori with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in contact with NZ mental health services., Methods: A cohort of Māori and non-Māori with a current bipolar disorder diagnosis at 1 January 2010 were identified from routine mental health services data and followed up for non-psychiatric hospital admissions and deaths over the subsequent 5 years., Results: Māori with bipolar disorder had a higher level of morbidity and a higher risk of death from natural causes compared to non-Māori with the same diagnosis, indicating higher levels of physical health need. The rate of medical and surgical hospitalisation was not higher among Māori compared to non-Māori (as might be expected given increased health needs) which suggests under-treatment of physical health conditions in this group may be a factor in the observed higher risk of mortality from natural causes for Māori., Conclusion: This study provides the first indication that systemic factors which cause health inequities between Māori and non-Māori are compounded for Māori living with severe mental illness. Further exploration of other diagnostic groups and subgroups is needed to understand the best approach to reducing these inequalities.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious mental health condition that is clinically complex to monitor and manage. While best practice guidelines exist, they vary internationally lacking consensus. Indigenous peoples, including Māori in New Zealand, experience higher community rates of BD. While New Zealand practice guidelines recommend providing culturally responsive care to Māori, studies show that Māori do not receive best practice. This qualitative study aimed to share the evidence about patterns of health service use and Māori patient experiences with focus group participants involved in the design and delivery of BD services, to discuss and develop guidelines for best practice for Māori with BD and address areas of unmet need. Three focus groups were conducted with 22 participants involved in the delivery of services to Māori with BD across three sites. Willing participants were sent background information and three focus group questions framed to elicit priority solutions to improve clinical, structural and organisational features of mental health service delivery for Māori patients with BD and their whānau (family). The nominal group technique was used to synthesise responses, and then develop a prioritised list of proposed solutions. Results identified system-level changes required at the clinical, structural and organisational levels of healthcare. Findings further evidence the need for healthcare reform in New Zealand, to be responsive to Māori with BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence of Indigenous and ethnic minority inequities in the incidence and outcomes of early psychosis. Racism has been implicated as having an important role. Aim: To use Indigenous experiences to develop a more detailed understanding of how racism operates to impact early psychosis outcomes. Methods: Critical Race Theory informed the methodology used. Twenty-three Indigenous participants participated in four family focus group interviews and thirteen individual interviews, comprising of 9 Māori youth with early psychosis, 10 family members and 4 Māori mental health professionals. An analysis of the data was undertaken using deductive structural coding to identify descriptions of racism, followed by inductive descriptive and pattern coding. Results: Participant experiences revealed how racism operates as a socio-cultural phenomenon that interacts with institutional policy and culture across systems pertaining to social responsiveness, risk discourse, and mental health service structures. This is described across three major themes: 1) selective responses based on racial stereotypes, 2) race related risk assessment bias and 3) institutional racism in the mental health workforce. The impacts of racism were reported as inaction in the face of social need, increased use of coercive practices and an under resourced Indigenous mental health workforce. Conclusion: The study illustrated the inter-related nature of interpersonal, institutional and structural racism with examples of interpersonal racism in the form of negative stereotypes interacting with organizational, socio-cultural and political priorities. These findings indicate that organizational cultures may differentially impact Indigenous and minority people and that social responsiveness, risk discourse and the distribution of workforce expenditure are important targets for anti-racism efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The validity of diagnostic classification in early psychosis has important implications for early intervention; however, it is unknown if previously found disparities between Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) and non‐Māori in first episode diagnoses persist over time, or how these differences impact service use. Methods: We used anonymized routine mental health service data and a previously established cohort of over 2400 13–25‐year‐old youth diagnosed with FEP between 2009 and 2012, to explore differences in diagnostic stability of psychosis diagnoses, comorbid (non‐psychosis) diagnoses, and mental health service contacts between Māori and non‐Māori in the five‐year period following diagnosis. Results: Differences in schizophrenia and affective psychosis diagnoses between Māori and non‐Māori were maintained in the five‐year period, with Māori being more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia (51% vs. 35%), and non‐Māori with bipolar disorder (28% vs. 18%). Stability of diagnosis was similar (schizophrenia 75% Māori vs. 67% non‐Maori; bipolar disorder 55% Māori vs. 48% non‐Māori) and those with no stable diagnosis at FEP were most likely to move towards a schizophrenia disorder diagnosis in both groups. Māori had a lower rate of diagnosed co‐morbid affective and anxiety symptoms and higher rates of continued face to face contact and inpatient admission across all diagnoses. Conclusions: Indigenous differences in schizophrenia and affective psychosis diagnoses could be related to differential exposure to socio‐environmental risk or assessor bias. The lower rate of co‐morbid affective and anxiety disorders indicates a potential under‐appreciation of affective symptoms in Māori youth with first episode psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health, illness, and the body are conceptualized within the cultural context of a society. The values and belief systems of a society, including media portrayals, shape how health and illness present. Traditionally, Western portrayals of eating disorders have been prioritized over and above Indigenous realities. This paper explores the lived experiences of Māori with eating disorders and their whānau (family/support system) to identify the enablers and barriers to accessing specialist services for eating disorders in New Zealand. Method: Kaupapa Māori research methodology was used to ensure the research supported Māori health advancement. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were completed with Māori participants including; those with an eating disorder diagnosis (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder), and/or their whānau. Structural, descriptive, and pattern coding was undertaken within the thematic analysis. Low's spatializing culture framework was used to interpret the findings. Results: Two overarching themes identified systemic and social barriers to accessing treatment for Māori with eating disorders. The first theme, was space, that described the material culture within eating disorder settings. This theme critiqued eating disorder services, including idiosyncratic use of assessment methods, inaccessible service locations, and the limited number of beds available in specialist mental health services. The second theme, place, referred to the meaning given to social interactions created within space. Participants critiqued the privileging of non-Māori experiences, and how this makes a place and space of exclusion for Māori and their whānau in eating disorder services in New Zealand. Other barriers included shame and stigma, while enablers included family support and self-advocacy. Conclusion: More education is needed for those working in the space of primary health settings about the diversity of those with eating disorders to enable them to look beyond the stereotype of what an eating disorder looks like, and to take seriously the concerns of whaiora and whānau who present with disordered eating concerns. There is also a need for thorough assessment and early referral for eating disorder treatment to ensure the benefits of early intervention are enabled for Māori. Attention given to these findings will ensure a place for Māori in specialist eating disorder services in New Zealand. Plain English summary: Eating disorders are at least as common in Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) when compared to their non-Māori counterparts, however, a recent study investigating specialist service use data identified lower-than-expected service use for Māori. This paper explores the lived experiences of Māori with eating disorders and their whānau (family/support network) to understand the barriers and enablers to accessing treatment. Participants in this study identified both systemic and social barriers to accessing treatment for eating disorders; Systemic barriers included the idiosyncratic use of assessment methods by health practitioners, and inaccessible service locations, including the number of available inpatient beds. While social barriers included the stereotype of what an eating disorder looks like, shame, stigma, and discrimination; support networks were described as both an enabler and barrier to accessing specialist treatment for eating disorders. The findings from this study suggest thorough assessment and early referrals are needed for Māori presenting with disordered eating concerns. Moreover, more education is needed for those working in primary healthcare settings about the diversity of eating disorders to ensure they move beyond the stereotype of what an eating disorder looks like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper synthesises critique from Māori patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) and their whānau to identify barriers and propose changes to improve the structure and function of the New Zealand mental health system. A qualitative Kaupapa Māori Research methodology was used. Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were completed with Māori patients with BD and members of their whānau. Structural, descriptive and pattern coding was completed using an adapted cultural competence framework to organise and analyse the data. Three key themes identified the impact of structural features of the New Zealand mental health system on health equity for Māori with BD. Themes involved the accessibility, delivery and scope of the current health system, and described how structural features influenced the quality, utility and availability of BD services for Māori patients and whānau. Structural barriers in the existing design, and potential changes to improve the accessibility, delivery and scope of BD services for Māori, were proposed including a redesign of operational, environmental, staffing, and navigation points (information, transition, fatigue) to better meet the needs of Māori with BD. A commitment to equity when implementing structural change is needed, including ongoing evaluation and refinement. This paper provides specific recommendations that should be considered in health service redesign to ensure the New Zealand mental health system meets the needs of Māori patients with BD and their whānau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the demand for aged residential care increases, low use of aged residential care by Indigenous people raises questions about unrecognised barriers to health care. The objectives of this systematic literature review are to (a) examine current scientific literature that reports older Indigenous people's experiences in aged residential care and (b) describe critical factors that shape Indigenous people's preferences in aged residential care settings. We conducted a systematic review of studies using an online search of the literature. A total of 6,233 citations were retrieved, and 45 studies examined in full-text. Eight studies met the study inclusion criteria. Indigenous older people were found to be younger, had higher prevalence of complex health conditions, and were less likely to receive dental and mental health services on admission to aged residential care. Their preferences for care were more likely to be evident in aged residential care facilities where the Indigenous composition of staff reflected the Indigenous makeup of its residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Māori, like Indigenous Australians and other indigenous people world-wide, are simultaneously over-represented among those presenting with addiction-related problems and under-represented within various health professions. Providing the opportunity for individuals and whanau (family/extended family) to work with ethnically matched health workers is likely to increase service accessibility and to improve treatment outcomes. In New Zealand, a number of initiatives have been instigated to increase the capacity of the Māori health work-force and reduce related barriers to treatment. This article provides an analysis of relevant literature and policy documents, and identifies five strategic imperatives currently informing work-force development in the Māori alcohol and other drug (AOD) and gambling treatment sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]