A pilot utilising a Whānau Ora approach to youth mental health and wellbeing is targeting Māori and Pasifika families in south Auckland and Hastings.

‘Whānau Ora for Youth Mental Health’ – one of 22 initiatives in Prime Minister John Key’s package of measures to improve youth mental health – involves two providers working with a total of 40 young people and their whānau, aiga or fanau.

A key focus is family members between the ages of 12 and 19 who have been or are at risk of mild to moderate mental health issues.

The Pacific Islands Safety and Prevention Project in the Counties Manukau area along with Central Health in Hastings will trial a culturally appropriate way of working collectively with youth and their families to assist them to identify and address their mental health needs.

The two providers will develop comprehensive, adaptable and accessible pathways to help aiga and fanau navigate to and through the services that they require.

The Minister for Whānau Ora, Hon Tariana Turia, says the wellbeing of young people’s families is critical to their own wellbeing.

“What makes this initiative unique is the whole-whānau approach which focuses on building leadership and resilience within whānau collectives,” says Minister Turia.

“It’s about whānau taking control of situations that impact on youth mental health, and empowering them with the knowledge and skills to deal with these significant events in their lives.”

Evaluation and monitoring will be used to gather and share successes and learning before the one-off pilot concludes in June 2014.