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Leaders to discuss Indigenous Practises in Mental Health |
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Wellington, Feb 27,2009 NZPA
An international indigenous leaders' mental health conference will try to forge a partnership between researchers and the leaders, while attempting to support and identify traditional practices that are effective.
The conference involving indigenous leaders in mental health from New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the United States will be held at Massey University's Manawatu campus from Sunday.
The developments in Maori mental health over the past 25 years, including the growth in the Maori mental health workforce and the emergence of community-based Maori health providers would be discussed, assistant vice-chancellor (Maori and Pasifika) professor Mason Durie said today.
"The meeting will offer an opportunity for collaboration between indigenous leaders and researchers with a view to establishing ongoing partnerships."
It would also discuss and review the potential adaptability of a model of cultural competency developed by Dr Spero Mason of the University of Colorado and his colleagues in Alaska and the use of evidence to support and identify traditional practices that were effective, Prof Durie said.
Other topics would include mental health outcome measurements, indigenous mental health workforce development, leadership skills for indigenous based services, and primary care mental health programmes for early intervention.
The exchange and conference is being run as part of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leaders that operates under the umbrella of Mental Health Corporations of America established in 2003.
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