Objective: To describe an Indigenous Samoan psychosocial intervention developed to address the mental health needs of affected communities in Samoa following a tsunami. Method: A partnership was established between Samoan therapists, Samoan Catholic pastoral workers and non-Samoan mental health clinicians, informed by Samoan concepts of self and wellbeing. The format developed for visits to significantly affected households was based on a Samoan cultural practice known as asiasiga and was carried out by pastoral workers, with daily group supervision and access to mental health professionals. Results: Household visits were offered to affected families in villages throughout southern and eastern Upolu and the island of Manono. There was a high degree of acceptance of the programme by Pulenu’u (village governance leaders) and family leaders and members. Conclusions: Mental health responses to the needs of Indigenous Pacific communities following a disaster need to be embedded in the values of those communities. The Samoan practice of asiasiga contributed to the high degree of acceptability of this programme. Partnerships with churches, schools and other local organisations are likely to enhance acceptability and participation. More research is required on Indigenous Pacific post-disaster mental health programmes.

Purpose High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and circuit training (CT) are popular methods of exercise, eliciting improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). However, direct comparisons of these two training methods are limited. We investigated the effects of HIIT and CT on CRF. Methods Thirty-nine apparently healthy middle-aged participants [HIIT; mean age: 42.5 ± 12.3; V O 2max 31.5 ± 7.1 (ml kg −1 min −1); 52% males; CT; mean age: 41.2 ± 12.9; V O 2max 31.4 ± 6.8 (ml kg −1 min −1); 57% males] were randomly allocated to two sessions per week of HIIT or CT over 8 weeks. HIIT performed ten 1-min cycle-ergometry intervals at > 85% HR max , separated by ten 1-min intervals of active recovery. The CT group performed up to 40-min of CT at 60-80% HR max. CRF was measured using maximum oxygen uptake (V O 2max), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (V O 2 at VAT) and maximum oxygen pulse (V O 2 /HR). Results V O 2max increased by 12% following HIIT

Objective: To describe a community-based single-session group intervention designed to address psychosocial needs of Samoan young people following a tsunami. Method: This programme resulted from collaboration between Samoan therapists, Samoan Catholic pastoral care workers and non-Samoan mental health clinicians. Informed by Samoan concepts of self and wellbeing, it incorporated cultural and spiritual practices familiar to Samoan young people and their families as well as body-centred therapeutic techniques, the ‘Tree of life’ exercise and provision of a cooked meal. Results: Following household visits to affected families in villages throughout southern and eastern Upolu and the island of Manono, the programme was devised and carried out in 11 villages with 1295 children participating. There was a high degree of acceptance of the programme by Pulenu’u (village governance leaders), young people, their families and community members. Conclusions: Interventions to address the psychological needs of Indigenous Pacific children and adolescents following a major disaster need to be embedded in the values of their communities. This paper describes an innovative programme based on Samoan values that was consistent with evidence-informed principles used to guide post-disaster responses.