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, 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.
___________________________________
Learn more about Le Va’s Mental Health and Addiction portfolio of work.
534 young people and their families increasing their mental health literacy through the Mental Wealth project, and 13,879 users entering real-life problems into the Aunty Dee problem-solving tool.
A highlight for the year was co-facilitating Mental Wealth workshops within the rugby league grassroots community alongside our longstanding partners the New Zealand Vodafone Warriors. The workshops aimed to equip players, coaches, and families with the skills to identify the signs of mental distress, the confidence to check in on a mate, and the knowledge to know where to find the supports and services available.
“The rugby league community has really enjoyed the workshops delivered by the team at Le Va. The groundswell of clubs and teams wanting to do the workshops has only slowed by the impact of Covid-19 and one coach said they wish they had done it earlier in the year – the tools for maintaining wellbeing that Le Va shared was a big hit,” says Vodafone Warriors Welfare and Education Manager, Jerry Seuseu.
With the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns, the FLO Programme undertook steps to find innovative ways to both meet the growing demand from the community, as well as the impact on workshop deliveries. Four digital workshops via Zoom were trialled, receiving positive feedback from participants, increasing the programme’s delivery modalities to new and exciting heights.
Over the next 12 months, the FLO Programme will continue to focus on Pasifika families, ensuring they are well equipped to know how to prevent suicide, by communicating well with each, increasing their sense of strong cultural identity, connecting often with others, growing as a strong family and finding hope and courage through spirituality.
Le Va’s Atu-Mai team sat down with some amazing youth in a talanoa series we are developing called KOKO CHATS.
Le Va is committed to providing a platform for the voice of Pasifika youth where they can gather and share their views on the issues that affect them to lead and co-design solutions with us. We caught up recently to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, violence prevention, culture, relationships and mental health that has been distributed on our social media platforms in a 4-part series.
Off the back of Ara Taiohi’s #Youthweeknz theme 2020 “We are speaking, are you listening?”, our 2016 youth participation guidelines and the development of our new Le Va youth strategy, we are conscious that our young people provide us with the insight and knowledge to create the sustainable change we need within our communities to promote and harness safe and strong relationships for Pasifika peoples.
Fa’afetai tele lava to Titiana Popoa’i Tulua, Luseane Valu, David Tupou, Patrick Alesana and John-Paul Foliaki for contributing their voices and time to the first series. Please email us at atumai@leva.co.nz if you know of any Pasifika young people who would like to be part of the next series!
Press release
Le Va chief executive and clinical psychologist, Denise Kingi-Uluave said, “every suicide is a tragedy that has long-lasting effects on families and communities. Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide and everyone’s role will be different.”
“A critical aspect of preventing suicide requires a focus on equipping families and communities with the knowledge, skills and resources that strengthen their resilience to life’s many stressors. Our purpose at Le Va is to support Pasifika families and communities to unleash their full potential and have the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes.”
The Le Va Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund aims to empower Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide and to respond effectively if and when a suicide occurs.
The Community Fund seeks to support Pasifika communities to effectively implement community-based suicide prevention initiatives so that families and communities are:
• strongly connected
• equipped with the skills to cope with distress
• actively building resilience and reducing the risks of suicide
• assisted in accessing support services and
• supported to build a strong cultural identity to enhance mental wellbeing
Applications for funding will be for a minimum of $10k and a maximum of $300k. It will open from 3 June to initiatives with a focus on Pasifika suicide prevention and will close 30 June 2020.
For more information, and to apply for funding, visit www.leva.co.nz/suicide-prevention-fund
Le Va is New Zealand’s leading not-for-profit Pasifika organisation whose work spans mental health, suicide prevention, addictions, violence prevention, public health, disability support services and cultural competency.
Denise reiterated that we must all be committed to creating communities where everyone feels accepted for who they are and that we all have a sense of purpose and belonging.