More investment in kaupapa Māori mental health and
addiction services is needed to ensure the support available
meets the level of mental distress experienced by Māori.
Despite funding increases over the past five years more
needs to be done to achieve equitable funding. This is a key
finding in today’s Te Hiringa Mahara – the Mental Health
and Wellbeing Commission, Te Huringa Tuarua 2023: Kaupapa
Māori Services report.
The report provides an
overview of investment into kaupapa Māori mental health and
addiction services, sheds light on the significant
disparities faced by Māori in mental health outcomes, and
calls for the need for change to address these inequities.
The tangata whaiora Māori who contributed to the report
emphasised the funding disparity.
“Approximately 30
per cent of Māori will experience mental distress to the
level categorised as ‘mental disorder’ in any year.
However only 11 per cent of current mental health and
addiction expenditure is on Kaupapa services,” says Te
Hiringa Mahara Board Chair Hayden Wano.
“Māori make
up 17 per cent of the population and have higher levels of
mental distress than other population groups but the level
of resourcing doesn’t match this.”
The report
amplifies the voices of Māori, underscoring their
experiences within a health system that often fails to
prioritize Te Ao Māori and tikanga Māori principles.
Tāngata whaiora Māori and published Māori voices in the
report shed light on the challenges faced by Māori
communities and emphasizes the urgent need for
change.
“We want to see more funding allocation to
follow the example set by the new Access and Choice
programme. The government has committed to ensuring 20 per
cent, or $35.5 million each year by 30 June 2024, is
allocated to Kaupapa Māori services and Māori providers.
This is a positive step forward,” Mr Wano said.
“It is
about more than just funding. These services also need to be
empowered to design and deliver services tailored to their
communities. In support of this, we advocate for the use of
commissioning approaches that acknowledge the principles of
mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga.”
Focus groups
who contributed to the research said they hoped to see more
holistic services that span the life course, from the “crib
to the tomb”, for tāngata whaiora and their
whānau.
“The conclusions we reached build on earlier
reports, including Oranga Tāngata, Oranga Whānau and the
Waitangi Tribunal’s Hauora report. The thinking lines up
with the new Oranga Hinengaro System and Service Framework
issued this year by Manatū Hauora. What we want to see now
is change,” Mr Wano said.
“To ensure a more balanced
allocation of resources, we call for an increase in funding
for kaupapa Māori services to address inequities in the
funding model. This includes an allocation of any new mental
health and addictions investment allocated to kaupapa Māori
services.
“We also advocate for a comprehensive mental
health and addiction prevalence survey to strengthen how
decisions about investments are made.
ENDS
Source:
Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing
Commission
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