Mental Health in the Smaller Pacific States

A review of mental health and wellbeing under climate change in small island developing states (SIDS)

“…Mental health and wellbeing difficulties are often stigmatised, deprioritised, or not monitored fully in SIDS (as well as many other places), as shown by Leckie and Hughes ( 2017 ) for some Pacific SIDS and by Picco et al ( 2019 ) for the SIDS of Singapore. For example, in SIDS such as Fiji (Foster et al 2008 ), Jamaica (Semrau et al 2015 ), and Timor-Leste (Hawkins 2010 ), mental health and wellbeing difficulties are frequently interpreted as being retribution against a family or caused by an individual’s sins.…”

Integration of traditional and western treatment approaches in mental health care in Pacific Island Countries

“…As in other LMICS, traditional healers are commonly approached for help with mental disorders and mental health problems. [8][9][10] Traditional healers were mentioned as a resource for mental health in four of the national mental health policies we were able to access, but there is a dearth of literature on traditional healers and mental health professionals working together. This is disappointing given the potential not only for treating mental disorders but for contributing to individual, family and community well-being more broadly.…”

“…3 The concept has particular relevance for the PICs, where beliefs about health and illness are often linked to maintaining social order and spirituality. [8][9][10] Traditional healing methods are widely practised though this is usually done outside the formal health system. 5 This paper explores the extent of integration of traditional and western approaches in mental health care in the three major island groups of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia through examination of national mental health policies and published literature.…”

Mental health in the Pacific: Urgency and opportunity

“…The current landscape of mental health care in the Pacific is shaped by its history of colonisation, which introduced psychiatric hospitalisation in the form of asylums in the late nineteenth century (Leckie and Hughes, 2017). Several countries still operate a centralised psychiatric hospital, while others primarily provide mental health services at general hospitals located in capital cities (WHO WPR, 2017b).…”

“…A few countries have begun decentralising services, however, a major obstacle throughout the region is developing alternative resources to adequately replace hospital care, such as scaling‐up community‐based mental health services (WHO WPR, 2014). Another key obstacle to progress on mental health in the Pacific is stigma and discrimination, which is an issue all over the world but in this case needs to be carefully considered in the context of Pacific determinants of health and wellbeing (Leckie and Hughes, 2017). In particular, Pacific concepts of health are holistic and encompass family, culture and spirituality as integral components (Pulotu‐Endemann, 2001).…”