Characteristics of Pacific Island People Admitted to a New Zealand Inpatient Forensic Service

Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

article

Lisi Petaia¹  Tom Stoner²  Gannin Bell³  Himadri Seth¹  Susan Hatters Friedman¹ 

[1] Waitemata District Health Board;The University of Auckland;Forensic Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University

关键词: culture;    forensic hospital;    Pacific Islander;    psychosis;    New Zealand;   

DOI  :  10.29158/JAAPL.210031-21

学科分类：儿科学

来源: American Academy of Psychiatry The Law

【 摘 要 】

This study describes the characteristics of Pacific Island patients admitted to the Auckland Regional Forensic Psychiatry Service, at Mason Clinic, the largest of five forensic hospitals in New Zealand. Sixty-nine Pacific Island patients admitted over a 9-year period (2009--2017) are described in terms of their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, access to community mental health care prior to arrest, and their legal history. The majority were men, born in New Zealand, who were single, with poor educational achievement, unemployed, with minimal religious and cultural affiliations, and still living with family prior to the index offense. Almost all had a major psychotic illness, with a mean duration of untreated psychosis of 2.5 years. Most used alcohol and cannabis, and almost half used methamphetamine. The majority of index offenses were violent in nature. These findings identified a disadvantaged and vulnerable group with multiple diagnoses and limited access to mental health services. Culture is fundamental to the causes, course, and care of mental illness. The design and delivery of services that are responsive to the mental health needs of this culturally diverse group may lead to better health outcomes and reduced inequities.

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