Acceptability to Māori of an online platform and interactive chatbot to support mental health wellbeing
Māori face a disproportionately higher rate of mental health distress, but are less likely to access mental health services. Clearhead is a freely available, New Zealand online platform that has been developed which aims to support mental health and wellbeing and reduce pressures on mental health services. The Oakley Mental Health Foundation awarded our team some funding to evaluate whether this online platform is an acceptable means of delivery mental health care to Māori, and what the barriers / enablers are to use of online mental health services. This has the potential to change how mental health care is delivered to Māori, and increase service accessibility, which is particularly important in view of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to face-to-face health delivery.
Project related media: https://e-commercenews.co.nz/story/uoa-researchers-work-with-maori-to-evaulate-online-mental-health-platform
PI Contact email: a.chan@auckland.ac.nz
PI University of Auckland homepage URL: https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/people/profile/a-chan
Collaborators: Dr Angela Lim (Clearhead), A/P Frederick Sundram (University of Auckland), Mr Aaryn Niuapu (prev. Te Kete Pounamu), Dr Liesje Donkin (University of Auckland), Professor Jim Warren (University of Auckland), Professor Tony Dowell (University of Otago)
Status: Ongoing
Funding: Chorus, Oakley Mental Health Foundation