In early November, Le Va welcomed a delegation of mental health and addiction sector leaders representing government, health and NGO services from Fiji.
The delegates, who were part of a study tour sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and hosted by the Salvation Army New Zealand, were keen to learn about Le Va’s successful Pacific health workforce development programmes, particularly in the addiction sector.
Fiji is currently facing a drug use crisis with widespread methamphetamine addiction, especially among their young people, and an associated rise in drug-related mental health problems.
Like many Pacific nations, Fiji is also experiencing similar challenges in health and social issues. The Fijian government is seeking solutions and taking measures to tackle the surge in drug use, which is a problem affecting the wider Pacific and also Aotearoa.
Alongside sharing information about Le Va’s mental health and addiction initiatives, the Le Va leadership team presented on its innovative suicide and violence prevention programmes, such as LifeKeepers and Atu-Mai.
Many connections were made at the meeting, which was a rich opportunity for talanoa and the exchange of ideas and possibilities.
Le Va’s senior manager for mental health and addiction, Toleafoa Mark Esekielu, said of the visit,
“Vinaka vaka levu to our Fijian colleagues for taking the time to join us at Le Va. It was rewarding to connect with high-level government and health sector leaders from Fiji to share ideas and make plans to collaborate in the near future.
“We are grateful to our friends at the Salvation Army New Zealand for reaching out to Le Va, and to MFAT for sponsoring the study tour. We all left the meeting filled with knowledge, inspiration and alofa.”
Le Va acknowledges the importance of trans-Pacific collaboration for the mental health and addiction sector, so all nations across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa can support each other and our people to achieve improved outcomes.
Explore Le Va’s addiction workforce resources.
Le Va is proud to announce the launch of Tu Tonu: Cultural Case Formulation – an innovative new full-day training designed to support health professionals in crafting culturally responsive formulations of mental health and addiction challenges.
About Tu Tonu
The Tu Tonu cultural case formulation tool provides a holistic explanation of the journey for tagata ola, illustrating how mental health and addiction challenges develop and are maintained, while also considering a person’s cultural experiences, strengths and their aspirations.
Tu Tonu enhances the knowledge and skills of health professionals to develop cultural case formulations, nourishing the va between tagata ola and practitioners and increasing their ability to practice safely and effectively.
Le Va held the first Tu Tonu training sessions in October in Manukau, Auckland and in Naenae, Lower Hutt.
One attendee said, “It was so good to have this new Tu Tonu tool. I’ve already used almost everything I got from the training. It was so useful, applicable and it has helped me to work in a strengths-based approach.”
What’s in a name?
‘Mo yaga ka Vinaka vakaniu, e sega ni dua na tikina e biu – Be as useful as the coconut tree, no part of it is wasted.’ – Fijian proverb
The coconut tree is known as the tree of life across the Pacific. It is culturally treasured, sustainable, has many uses and it embodies the resilience of Pasifika people.
The name ‘Tu Tonu’ – a pan-Pacific phrase meaning ‘stand true’ – can translate to reaching potential, growing tall, maintaining strength and, like the resilient coconut tree, standing tall in the face of stormy and severe weather that we sometimes face in life.
“The use of the coconut tree as a tool and model is great, and also the integration of clinical and cultural factors is exciting,” said a Tu Tonu attendee.
Another attendee enjoyed, “Being able to learn another cultural framework to utilise with tagata ola. Engaging with other participants – sharing ideas, insights about cultural case formulation. Trainers are knowledgeable, skilled and have a fun and relaxed way of engaging with the class. Love the Tu Tonu model and looking forward to using it in practice.”
Learn more about our Tu Tonu: Cultural Case Formulation training or email pasifikaprimarymha@leva.co.nz for more information.
Le Va celebrated the achievements of 163 Pasifika mental health and addiction students this week, with 98 receiving their Futures that Work Pacific Mental Health and Addiction Scholarship awards in person in Manukau on 9 October.
Maria English, CEO of ImpactLab, addressed the students in her keynote speech, saying,
“When I look around this room, my eyes light up. When I see the people coming across the stage, I think about the hundreds, if not thousands, of people whose lives each of you scholars will positively impact.”
Pacific people in Aotearoa New Zealand have higher rates of mental illness and substance abuse than the general population, with lower rates of access to services and poorer health outcomes overall.
Le Va’s Futures that Work Pacific Mental Health and Addiction Scholarship, funded by Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, aims to reverse this trend by supporting the development of the Pasifika mental health and addiction workforce.
The Futures that Work programme offers more than just financial support – students receive mentoring, cultural and pastoral care, and help with identifying career pathways in the sector.
Le Va chief executive, Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, said to the students, “There is still much work to be done to address the disparities in mental health and addiction services for Pasifika. But with each of you here today, I am filled with hope.”
‘Tutū maiea marangai, whakatere ana Poupaka – When the easterly wind rises, Poupaka goes sailing’ was the theme for the National Addiction Leadership Day held on 31 July in Māngere, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Hosted by the National Committee for Addiction Treatment in partnership with Te Pou, the event was attended by Hon Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health and Associate Minister of Health, who gave the opening address.
Le Va’s senior manager – mental health and addiction, Toleafoa Mark Esekielu, said of the event, “It was great to connect and reconnect with such passionate addiction rangatira and kaimahi.
“Wonderful to hear about all the vast work that is happening across the sector and to share the part Le Va is contributing with our inaugural addiction scholarship programme, funded by Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora.”
Toleafoa presented on Le Va’s work in the sector and our new Addiction and Problem Gambling Harm Scholarship.
Intended to increase the capacity and capability of the workforce, the scholarship is available to those studying towards a qualification that contributes to reducing harms from alcohol and other drugs.
The first cohort of 44 students got underway in 2024, receiving tailored support in the form of financial assistance, cultural support, mentoring and career planning.
Find out more about Le Va’s mental health and addiction scholarships, supporting the development of the mental health and addiction workforce in Aotearoa.
https://www.leva.co.nz/scholarships-funding/
‘Voyage of hope: Charting a course for Pasifika addiction recovery’ was the aspirational theme for Le Va’s Le Tautua Pasifika Leadership 2024 programme, held in Māngere over two days in July.
Twenty-four successful applicants, all working in or adjacent to the addiction sector, took part in the event, which is designed to support Pasifika mental health and addiction leaders to enhance their leadership skills and cultivate their unique cultural perspectives.
A previous participant said of Le Tautua, “What was very good was the space to discuss and drive towards integration of Pasifika concepts into our leadership, with the freedom to explore meanings in the group setting – words and actions are powerful.”
Le Tautua’s speakers and panellists inspired our Pasifika leaders with hope, resilience and determination, helping them to envision a future where addiction-related harms are minimised and individuals can thrive.
Mark Esekielu, Le Va’s senior manager – mental health and addiction said, “There’s a Samoan proverb – ‘E afua mai mauga lelei o nu’u’ that translates to ‘From the mountain flows the blessings for the village’ or in other words, from good leadership flows blessings and wellbeing for families and communities.
“After two days of hearing from established leaders and seeing the calibre of our emerging leaders, I feel comfort for the present and hope for the future of the mental health and addiction sector in Aotearoa.”
This year Le Va also launched a new Addiction and Problem Gambling Harm Scholarship, aimed at increasing the capacity and skills of the workforce to reduce harm in those areas.
Alongside Le Tautua and our Futures that Work Pacific Mental Health and Addiction Scholarship, these initiatives are all intended to support the mental health and addiction workforce to grow, in order to achieve better health outcomes for everyone in Aotearoa.
It is fair to say that in Aotearoa New Zealand we are currently dealing with significant changes to our mental health and addiction services.
The Transforming Mental Health Conference, held in Auckland on 22 and 23 July, sought to address some of the larger questions and challenges this brings.
Le Va’s chief executive and general manager, who are also both clinical psychologists, presented at the conference, turning a Pasifika lens upon the issues facing the mental health and addiction sector.
Chief executive, Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, gave a presentation at the conference on ‘Suicide prevention strategies: Saving lives together’, where she explored a range of global suicide prevention strategies and highlighted the outstanding results we have seen from our internationally renowned LifeKeepers programme.
Delving into the evidence-based suicide prevention strategies that form the basis of her doctoral research, Denise spoke about empowering communities, professionals and individuals to work collaboratively, and how we can learn from each other.
“It has been heartening to hear learn of so many innovative strategies to ensuring our mental health services are accessible and meet the needs of all New Zealanders. Collaboration across the sector and sharing our expertise sets us on a path to achieving an effective and inclusive mental healthcare system in Aotearoa.”
Dr Elizabeth Mati and Ross Phillips, Pathways Business Manager
Dr Elizabeth Mati, Le Va’s general manager, was part of a panel discussion on the importance of sustainable funding for the development of the mental health workforce.
With the topic of ‘Understaffed & overwhelmed: Strategies for the mental health workforce’, the panel led a heartfelt and passionate conversation about exploring innovative approaches to managing workload, preventing burnout and improving wellbeing.
Taking part in and contributing to events such as the Transforming Mental Health Conference reflects Le Va’s important work in supporting the development of the Pasifika mental health and addiction workforce in Aotearoa.
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Learn more about Le Va’s Mental Health and Addiction portfolio of work.
In attendance are representatives from the Pacific Behavioral Health Collaborating Council (PBHCC), which is a partnership between six US affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions – the Republic of Palau, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, American Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia.
PBHCC’s vision is: ‘Pacific Island communities, families and individuals who are substance abuse free and have access to optimal mental health care.’
Their visit to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is co-hosted by Le Va, the Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) and Te Pou to connect Pasifika leaders in the fields of mental health, addiction and disability.
Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, Chief Executive of Le Va, said of the event, “Last year Le Va and GLE signed a memorandum of understanding with the intention of growing an international network of strong leadership to support the wellbeing of our communities in Aotearoa.
“This international exchange is the first tangible outcome arising from our partnership, which we hope will lead to improved wellbeing outcomes for all of our Pacific peoples.”
The week-long event began with a traditional Tongan kava ceremony to welcome the international guests from PBHCC, who included Reyna Saures (Vice President), Dr Theresa Arriola (Director), and James Arriola (Executive Director).
Acting US Consulate General Alexia Branch and Mara Hosoda Su’a (US Pacific Regional Engagement Specialist, US Consulate General Auckland) joined the welcome, alongside representatives from Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, and Manatū Hauora – Ministry of Health.
Discussions and presentations followed on international collaboration and implementation strategies to enhance mental health and addiction services globally.
Future collaboration between the organisations present will connect leaders in these sectors to help find solutions for our communities in Aotearoa, the Pacific and around the world.
In September and October we reached the significant milestones of hosting Le Va’s inaugural ‘Navigating Mental Health’ and ‘Navigating Addiction’ trainings.
Just as Pasifika people have long understood the moana and how to navigate their way to safe shores, we acknowledge that our frontline Pasifika health providers are expert navigators. This is especially true when it comes to making connections, creating a safe space, and engaging in respectful talanoa with tagata ola.
Both interactive workshops aim to further equip the workforce with relevant knowledge and skills that can be applied with clinical and cultural integrity. They focus on the importance of holistic wellbeing and strategies to support Pasifika people who experience common mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
These trainings were developed after consultation with Pasifika services over many talanoa sessions and our hope is that our people working in this space grow in confidence when working alongside Pasifika who experience these challenges. Fa’afetai tele lava to the Pasifika Access & Choice services and their staff who have come to Le Va’s trainings across Aotearoa. The wisdom and experience everyone brought to the workshops enriched our talanoa.
To find out more about Le Va’s involvement in the Pasifika Access & Choice space, visit Access & Choice. To find out more about our workshops, email pasifikaprimarymha@leva.co.nz.
“O le tele o sulu, e maua ai figota” is a Samoan proverb meaning, “Through collaboration, the most difficult challenges can be overcome.”
Partnership and collaboration are integral to the success of Le Va, Aotearoa’s leading Pacific primary prevention organisation, which is why Le Va’s Board and senior executives were pleased to sign a memorandum of understanding with the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) and the International Initiative for Disability Leadership (IIDL) this week.
Chief Executive of Le Va, Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave said, “Given the prevailing uncertainty in the world, many have voiced their concerns regarding its potential impact on people’s mental wellbeing. To best address these issues, we believe that strong leadership is crucial, which is why we are eagerly anticipating our collaboration with IIMHL and IIDL.”
Signing the MoU signals Le Va’s expansion into a global arena of leadership, representing Pasifika interests to achieve the best outcomes for Pacific people with disabilities and lived experience of addiction and mental health challenges.
Steve Appleton, the President and Chief Executive of IIMHL/IIDL said of his trip to Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia that it was an opportunity to formalise the collaboration with Le Va, and make progress in working together with Pasifika leaders.
“Through sharing experiences and learning from one another, we can build stronger communities, stronger services, and services that can respond more effectively to the needs of our increasingly diverse populations,” Steve said.
IIMHL and IIDL connect international mental health leaders to help them share innovations and solve problems in the areas of mental health, addiction and disability around the globe.
Nine countries are members of the group, with New Zealand being a founding member of IIMHL and the Netherlands the latest country to join IIDL, alongside Australia, Canada, England, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and USA.
Le Va supports Pasifika families and communities to unleash their full potential, bringing more than 15 years of experience to the primary prevention of suicide, violence, mental health and addiction, and strengthening the Pasifika public health workforce.
At least 80 new scholarships will be awarded annually, to enhance the capacity and capability of the addiction and gambling harm workforce. Successful applicants will receive tailored support in the form of financial assistance, cultural support, mentoring and career planning.
Toleafoa Mark Esekielu
Le Va’s Senior Manager for Mental Health and Addiction, Toleafoa Mark Esekielu, said, “Over the last 15 years, we have seen the growing need for addictions and problem gambling support in our communities. Le Va is excited to partner with Te Whatu Ora to support the workforce with scholarships that will make a real difference in outcomes over the coming years.”
While all students committed to working in the AoD and gambling harm fields will be eligible, particular focus will be on priority groups including Māori, Pacific, Asian, youth, rainbow and lived experience communities, as well as the whānau of those affected by these issues.
Le Va, a Pacific primary prevention organisation, has a long history of partnership with Te Whatu Ora, successfully administering the Futures that Work Pasifika mental health and addiction scholarship since 2009.
By addressing workforce shortages and promoting equitable representation, the programme has the potential to contribute to the growth and skills of the AoD and gambling harm workforce, ultimately improving the quality and accessibility of mental health and addiction services in Aotearoa.
Opening dates for the first round of applications will be announced later this year.
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