Mana Pasifika

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At present our Pacific communities are navigating the impacts of COVID-19, subsequent lockdown and recent racial discrimination. As a result we are seeing and hearing severe levels of anxiety and mental distress amongst Pacific peoples. The Mana Pacific psychosocial approach has been developed to:

  • Support Pacific communities who are feeling anxious and distressed during these tough times.

  • Hone in on the importance of staying safe and connectedness.

  • Destigmatise help seeking, and encourage people that it’s ok to reach out! (via Vaka Tautua, Mapu Maia and 1737 COVID-19 specific helplines)

Our vision is to deliver a unique approach that is both relevant and specific for Pacific audiences and communities, building on key Pacific values of Alofa (Love), Tautua (Service/To Serve), Fa’aaloalo (Respect), Aiga (Family) and Vā Fealoaloa’i (Relationships). An approach that is by us, for us, with us.

Key Messages

We have developed messages and online content to encourage Pacific communities to “Stay Safe, Stay Connected”. Utilising social media, we have pushed out key messages to immediately respond to these tough times in our communities. These are currently running in translations for Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island languages, while we work toward expanding these out to more Pacific languages. General messages include:

  • The strength of our Pacific community has always been in our closeness and in tough times like this when we can’t be together, it’s more important than ever that we stay connected. Reaching out to someone can help ease anxiety, and just a few caring words can make a difference. Check in with someone a close friend or family member, ask them if they’re doing ok, then encourage them to do the same. Stay safe, stay connected.

  • We’ve been here before and we will get through this again together. Our strength as a community grows when we connect and support each other. It’s ok to feel anxious, lonely or in need of help, but don’t face these feelings by yourself and don’t let those around us struggle alone. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out today. 

  • It’s ok to not feel ok, and talking to someone about how you’re feeling is one of the best things you can do. If you’re struggling with feelings of anxiety, stress or sadness, have a chat with a trusted person in your life today, or text 1737 for support. #StaySafe #StayConnected

  • Wellness is community. As children of the Moana, our wellness is collective, it is caring for ourselves and caring for each other. Now more than ever we as a people need to come together in heart and mind, keeping our village strong. 

  • Many of us are going through a tough time right now, and it’s important we don’t face this alone. The bravest thing we can do is to speak to someone about how we’re feeling. When we put a voice to our thoughts instead of hiding them, we’re not just caring for ourselves but we’re also creating a stronger, more supportive community for our loved ones. It’s not weak to speak up – reach out to someone close. #StaySafe #StayConnected

Audience

We are taking a generational approach to this focused on reaching the widest range of demographics within our Pacific communities. Key audiences include:

  • Hapū māmā and new parents 

  • Young people 

  • Matua/Elders

  • Those with long term conditions (diabetes, heart disease, etc.)

  • Small business owners 

  • Essential & Frontline workers

Hero Stories 

Our first story is with League Legend, Ruben Wiki who talks to destigmatising help seeking around mental distress; debunking the narrative of not having to be a “tough gladiator” all the time.

Our second story is a spoken word by Poet, Grace Iwashita-Taylor called “Wellness is Community, Wellness is Us”; a strengthening piece that speaks to Pacific with alofa, aroa, ofa, loloma, love about Pacific and the importance of kaiga, aiga, whanau and family.  The poem is backgrounded by images and familiar places for Pacific, our families and workers, important as our communities are hit with the second wave COVID-19 the discrimination experienced, and the importance of whanau/family through these tough and unprecedented times.

We are currently in the midst of filming and editing further Hero Stories of other strong “voices” that will be going live over the coming weeks as we navigate these unprecedented times. We have more to come!

Help spread the word! 

Resources including videos and social content are available for community organisations and others to promote the campaign in Pacific communities: 

To help spread the word you can:

  • Follow and share our posts on our Facebook pages 

  • All assets are in the following link here and are updated regularly

  • Post our videos on social and use #staysafe #stayconnected