Pacific Islands Families Study: psychological distress among mothers of Pacific children living in New Zealand

Pacific and English Language Fluency and Mental Disorder Symptom Indications Among Pacific Mothers in New Zealand: Findings From the Pacific Islands Families Study

Within New Zealand (NZ), Pacific people experience higher prevalence of mental disorder than non-Pacific people. Bilinguals are believed to have psychological advantages over monolinguals, although the empirical evidence base is equivocal. A prospective cohort of Pacific mothers was studied at 6 weeks (n = 1272), 1-year (n = 1135), and 2-year (n = 1059) postpartum. At 6 weeks, 343 (27.0%) mothers were fluent in both Pacific and English languages, 519 (40.8%) only fluent in Pacific language(s), and 410 (32.2%) only fluent in English. Over assessment waves, 16.0%, 12.5%, and 8.7% of mothers had mental disorder symptom indications. In adjusted generalized estimating equation analysis, mothers speaking English only had odds of mental disorder symptom indication of 2.24 as compared to bilingual mothers, while those who spoke Pacific language(s) only had odds of 1.52. Supporting Pacific and English languages within NZ may confer mental health benefits to new Pacific mothers and potentially others.

Pacific models of mental health service delivery in New Zealand: Part I: What do we know about Pacific mental health in New Zealand? A narrative review

OBJECTIVE

To update measures of mental disorders and service use in Pacific people living in New Zealand.

METHOD

A narrative review was conducted of available data on the prevalence of mental disorder, psychotropic drug prescribing and service use by Pacific people.

RESULTS

The 12-month prevalence of mental disorders in Pacific people was similar to European/Other in 2004. Currently Pacific people report high rates of psychological distress but lower levels of psychiatric disorders. Pacific adults have low rates of drinking but many who drink have a hazardous pattern. While Pacific people previously accessed services less than half the rate of European access, access rates in secondary care are now similar. Pacific people have relatively low rates of psychotropic drug use but these are increasing.

CONCLUSION

There is limited evidence about Pacific people's mental health in New Zealand. Patterns of psychopathology and service use may be different from other ethnic groups. Protective factors in Pacific culture should not be undermined when delivering mental health services.