Whānau engagement in mental health and addiction services. Key performance indicator literature review – November 2022

Whānau engagement can improve people’s mental health and addiction service experiences and outcomes (Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, 2018). Whānau includes people’s family, friends, and others in their support network (Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health, 2017). In Aotearoa New Zealand, it is widely understood that whānau are central to individual and collective wellbeing, particularly for tāngata whai ora (people seeking wellness), and for more collectivist cultures such as Māori and Pasifika (Te Rau Matatini, 2014). It is therefore important for services to deliver culturally responsive and whānau-focused support to enhance people’s wellbeing (Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health, 2018). Kia Manawanui Aotearoa, the long-term pathway to improving mental wellbeing, identifies as a priority the need to integrate whānau-centred models of care, mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), and Pasifika models of wellbeing into services (Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health, 2021c).

This rapid review aims to summarise the rationale for including a whānau engagement indicator in the KPI Programme and compare Aotearoa New Zealand’s approach to measuring whānau engagement to those of other IIMHL countries.

Click here to read the report.