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Pacific Mental Health Commissioner launched at Pasifika Futures Whānau Ora Conference 2023
Pacific Mental Health Commissioner launched at Pasifika Futures Whānau Ora Conference 2023
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The Pacific Mental Health Commissioner was officially launched today at the Pasifika Futures (PFL) Whānau Ora Conference. The work of the Commissioner will be delivered through PFL's Ngalu Fānifo mental health service. This initiative has been established with the purpose of improving mental health and well-being outcomes for Pacific people, families, and communities
Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) and PFL CEO, Debbie Sorensen, says the Pacific Mental Health Commissioner serves a wider purpose of providing access to mental health services for Pacific communities.
"What we know is that Pacific people have poor access to mental health services, and we continue to identify challenges faced by our communities. Mental health in a Pacific context is not being catered to by mainstream mental health services and we see a high need for this to be addressed.
"The Pacific Mental Health Commissioner is a pivotal piece of work for our communities especially considering the lack of investment in the Pacific mental health and well-being workforce."
Mrs Sorensen says there are five key priorities for the Commissioner.
"The priorities for the Pacific Mental Health Commissioner are to invest in people, in services, in gathering evidence, and in our most vulnerable and partnerships.
"As an organisation, we have trained 2,202 Pacific Primary Mental Health workers to date. The Commissioner is an opportunity for us to continue stressing the importance of delivering mental health support, with Pacific ideologies, values and our families at the core of our work."
Pacific Mental Health Commissioner
Trustees
- Dr Etuini Ma’u – Consultant Psychogeriatrician, Waikato District Health Board
- Mr Abel Smith – Psychiatric Nurse, Director Pacific Workforce, Te Whatu Ora
- Dr Sione Vaka – Associate Professor, The University of Waikato
- Dr David Tan – Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
- Mrs Debbie Sorensen – Chief Executive Officer, Pasifika Medical Association
Regional Advisors
- Dr Jimmy Obed – Psychiatrist, Vanuatu
- Tuifagatoa Dr George Leao-Tuitama – Psychiatrist, Samoa
- Dr Evangelene Daniela-Wong – Psychologist, Cook Islands
Metua
- Dr Francis Agnew – Senior Psychiatrist