He Aka Hui | Kōrure o te tai – Changing the direction of the tide

A collaboration between Equally Well and the Tupuānuku researchers at The University of Otago.

Too many people with mental health and addiction issues are dying prematurely from preventable, treatable physical health conditions. This is a critical failure of the health system and must be addressed in terms of human rights and equity of outcomes.

The Tupuānuku research has identified how the health system is impacting on timely access and quality of care for people with mental health conditions and addiction. But with the right tools and information, we can all be agents for change and equity.Kōrure o te tai (changing direction of the tide).

Tui Taurua from the Equally Well backbone team gives this call to action for change-makers to come together to understand and turn good practice into routine care that meets the physical health needs of tāngata whai ora and their human rights in terms of equity of health outcomes. Join us to be part of a movement for equity, social justice, and change.This is an issue for all of us working in the health sector, however the primary care workforce has an important role to support timely access and early diagnosis and to avoid diagnostic overshadowing.

The Tupuānuku research, nourishing the physical health of tāngata whai ora, is a study funded by the Health Research Council for 2021–2023 led by Associate Professor Dr Ruth Cunningham, Dr Debbie Peterson, and Dr Helen Lockett, all researchers at the University of Otago. The research investigated the enablers and barriers that affect the access and quality of physical health care for people with mental health and substance use issues in Aotearoa.  Knowledge was generated from administrative data, survey responses and interviews with people with lived experience.Many people shared experiences of good care, but for many others diagnostic overshadowing delayed diagnosis and treatment for physical illnesses.

 

Join us at these two He Aka Hui where we will share the key findings from the research and engage with attendees to develop solutions and key actions to bring about a change in the tide of a system that is not enabling people to consistently receive the high quality and consistent physical health care that is their right.

Part 1 will have a key focus on workforce interventions and the role of primary health care and Part 2 will focus on the lived experience of diagnostic overshadowing and its impact on health care and outcomes.

He Aka Hui | Kōrure o te tai | Changing the direction of the tide part 1.

Chair: Irihapeti Mahuika, Pou Whakarae-Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Health Hawkes Bay

Presenters:A/Prof Dr Ruth Cunningham, MPH, FNZCPHM, PhD, Research Associate Professor, Public Health PhysicianCaro Swanson, Principal Advisor Mental Health, Lived Experience Leadership and System Change, Te Pou

Thursday 26 September 1 pm – 2pm register here   

 

 

He Aka Hui | Kōrure o te tai – Changing the direction of the tide part 2.

Thursday 24 October 1 pm – 2pm register here

This important research will support you to take action and make a real difference for the physical health outcomes of people with mental health and addiction issues. Join the movement to change the tide on this critical issue in people’s lives.

 

In-person workshops

The Aotearoa Equally Well backbone team are excited to invite you to express your interest in attending one of three upcoming in-person workshops, Kōrure o te Tai – changing the direction of the tide.

Join us in being part of taking action to improve the quality of physical health care for tāngata whai ora. We welcome practitioners, researchers, and those with lived experience to connect with your peers and add to the conversation.

• Ngā Waka o Matariki presentation – A backgrounding in our te ao Māori foundation strategy.
• Lived experience perspectives – speaking to experience of diagnostic overshadowing. Speakers will vary by location.
• Presentation on the Tupuānuku research: Nourishing the physical health care of tāngata whai ora – led by University of Otago and discusses the enablers and barriers affecting equitable health care for tāngata whai ora.
• Presentation on Te Pu Korokoro: Improving the physical health of Māori with psychosis – Te Pu Korokoro, led by the University of Otago’s Cameron Lacey in 2021, describes the physical health care received by Māori with psychosis.
• Opportunities to identify actions we can each take to collectively bring about change.

Tupuānuku research: led by University of Otago Associate Professor Dr Ruth Cunningham, Dr Debbie Peterson and Dr Helen Lockett
Te Pu Korokoro research: led by Cameron Lacey at the University of Otago.

Dates and locations

Please use the links below via Te Pou website to express your interest in attending.