| Focus on Pacific Mental Health | | Print | |
Le Va, a new Pacific mental health workforce development unit within Te Pou, has just been launched.Te Pou is New Zealand's National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development. Le Va aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Pacific people by developing a clinically and culturally competent Pacific workforce to deliver services. Its mission – vibrant Pacific leadership and well Pacific families. The work of Le Va will contribute to the Ministry of Health’s strategic vision outlined in Te Tahuhu: Improving Mental Health 2005 – 2015, Tauawhitia te Wero: National mental health and addiction workforce development plan 2006-2009 and Te Kokiri: Mental Health and Addictions Plan 2006-2015.  “Pacific mental health is an area characterised by high levels of need and low levels of access. There is a very high demand for ethnically-based services. This initiative is about building relationships between those working in Pacific mental health and strengthening our workforce. It’s about increasing the capacity and capability of the Pacific mental health workforce.” The Samoan word ‘Va’, which means ‘the space between’ or ‘ the space that relates’ was deliberately chosen as a founding concept for the initiative. “Le Va is about creating space. A space for the well-being of Pacific people. A space for creating links between New Zealand-born Pacific people and non-New Zealand Pacific people, between health consumers and their families and the health services and health workers they’re using,” says Monique. “I hope that the work of Le Va in strengthening the mental health workforce will benefit the whole sector.” Launching Le Va, Minister of Pacific Islands Affairs Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said the initiative was an exciting development. “Le Va will ensure that our own people are going to lead our mental health initiatives and be supported and resourced to do that. It means we’ll be addressing the high needs of our families and communities on the ground. I really admire the tenacity and the determination of those who have brought us on this journey, making sure that we claim our Va in relation to mental health." To find out more visit www.leva.co.nz Feedback on this story (2)
Sarai Tufala
said:
|
|||||
| It is about time PI have a research body specifically for mental health research. As a mental health worker I have high hopes and expectation that it will lead to greater things as research is the key to locating causes and solutions that have marred the lives of PI consumers and their families. However, I hope this space or "va" does not create a widening gap between PI communities, in every aspect of our lives. I'm referring mainly to my hope that existing PI researchers, in this case, the Le Va team, support and help develop potential PI researchers by giving each and every individual person who approaches them the help and support to develop our research skills. I will be one of these people, but my wish is that young PI promising researchers are encouraged to flourish into expert researchers and help pave the way for a better life especially for PI consumers and their families. Fakafetai lasi! |
Frances Tagaloa
said:
| Great story and very informative. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Top of page | Features | News | Home |
|---|
