March 11, 2020
Digital mental health tool right fit for Maori
A Better Start National Science Challenge is backing a project to give rangatahi a digital tool to support their mental health.
Dr Karolina Stasiak and Tania Cargo from the University of Auckland have developed HABITS or Health Advances Through Behavioural Interventions, a digital ecosystem which includes e-Health interventions, monitoring, and referral support for more urgent services if needed.
They have been awarded $1.4 million to try it out in South Auckland schools over the next two years.
Challenge director Professor Wayne Cutfield says part of the pilot is to ensure Māori cultural values are embedded and evaluated.
Previous Māori digital mental health research has found rangatahi Māori would access digital health tools when they were culturally relevant, including the use of te reo Māori, and when whānau were included.
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