Maori and Mental Illness Kodie Rosten 11/17/05

New Zealand’s history of health and the mentally ill After the founding of the colony there were no special provisions for the mentally ill. If they had no relatives to care for them, or if they were too great a problem to their family, they were put in prison. They were not treated any different than the true criminals. It took the Governmental systems a long time to make adequate provisions for the mentally ill. In 1853, asylums were put in to place in Auckland and Wellington, and were largely financed by the public. There was definite evidence of unskilled medical treatment at the various asylums. Dr. Duncan MacGregor was constantly urging Governments to increase the accommodations available. In 1897, he said that the asylum’s terrible conditions were due to overcrowding.

Type of Hospital Number of Hospitals Number of Licensed Beds Maternity22204 Medical and surgical Medical741,241 Mixed4474 Psychiatric231 Medical and children 6286 Details of the private hospitals, with numbers of licensed beds on the 31 st of March, 1965:

More History In 1911, the Mental Defectives Act instituted that there should be improved classifying of the mentally ill and improved methods of treatment. The words “insane” and “lunatic” were rejected. A general attitude towards the mentally ill has improved over the years. The present mental hospitals have been largely developed and restraints are minimal, and there is a major emphasis on treatment, rehabilitation, and development of abilities and assets. In addition to qualified nursing staff, there are occupational therapists, social workers, clinical psychologists, and recreation officers who have been implementing therapeutic services for the past 30 years. Psychiatric wards have been established in public hospitals as part of the general hospital services.

Maori A study was done on Maori patients in mental hospitals by the department of Health (Foster, 1962). Found that there was an increase of Maori entering psychiatric wards. A higher proportion of Maoris were diagnosed with schizophrenia, manic, or mentally deficient disorders than non-Maori patients. It is questionable as to why: More incidents More willingness to seek professional help Decrease in community tolerance

Maori Doctors and staff of mental wards are predominately Pakeha. Diagnosis may be misunderstood due to cultural differences Behavior diagnosis in fitting certain clinical syndromes could have another meaning according to Maori contexts. Maori mortality may be due to environmental factors such as poor housing and sanitation, overcrowding, and living where there is limited medical services.

Cultural Explanations When the cause of illness is not understood or the medical treatment was unsuccessful, the Maoris diagnose the “mate” (Maori sickness) to mystical causes which is only curable by Maori methods. The Causes of sickness is either “hara” (wrong- doing) or “makutu” (sorcery).

Sorcery It has much power and the Maori fear it. Talking about it is wrong and evil and can be dangerous. How to cure it: Once the creator of the sorcery is found and the cause is known sorcery can then be dealt with. If the victim has high “mana” (spiritual power), then that will automatically repulse the sorcery. Remove themselves to a safe distance for sorcerer Consult a Christian Minister or “tohunga.” When countering the opponent, the sorcery will return to the creator of it and it’s illness and death will be interpreted as proof of guilt.

Tohunga Widely known as having extra-ordinary knowledge and powers to diagnose, heal, or inflict disease or illness. They possess clear prophetic and healing gifts. There are only about 2-3 in most tribal areas. They possess their gifts through ancestral lines and learn instruction from older Tohunga’s and they also develop their own variations of practice. They heal by faith in a supreme God

Continued Tohunga They are highly effective in healing mental illness The doctors know to send the Maori people to the Tohunga and the Tohunga’s know to send Maoris to the doctors for purely medical conditions. Tohunga is seen as opposing Christian ministers, but Maori see them as related. They are now seen as psychologists and religious counselors with an advantage of speaking Maori and sharing their beliefs and values.

References Hicker, R. (2005). Stock Photos. Retrieved November 16, 2005, from Metge, J. (1967). The Maoris of New Zealand Rautahi. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Oliver, W. H., & Williams, B. R. (Eds.). (1981). The Oxford History of New Zealand. New York: The Oxford University Press. McLintock, A. H. (Ed.). (1966). Medical Services: Hospitals, Mental. Retrieved November 15, 2005, from www. teara.govt. nz/19 66/M/MedicalServices/HospitalsMental/en. Pictures of New Zealand. (2000). Retrieved November 16, 2005, from Royal, T. A. C.(2005, July 11). 'Māori' Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved November 15, 2005, from