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Indigenous–non-Indigenous disparities in health and social outcomes 5 years after first episode psychosis: national cohort study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2024

Ruth Cunningham*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Frederieke Petrović-van der Deen
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Sheree Gibb
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Marie Crowe
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
Jenni Manuel
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand Department of Māori/Indigenous Health Innovation (MIHI), University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
Suzanne Pitama
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Sue Crengle
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Richard Porter
Affiliation:
Specialist Mental Health Service, Te Whatu Ora, Christchurch, New Zealand
Cameron Lacey
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand Department of Māori/Indigenous Health Innovation (MIHI), University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
*
Correspondence: Ruth Cunningham. Email ruth.cunningham@otago.ac.nz
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Abstract

Background

There are ethnic differences, including differences related to indigeneity, in the incidence of first episode psychosis (FEP) and pathways into care, but research on ethnic disparities in outcomes following FEP is limited.

Aims

In this study we examined social and health outcomes following FEP diagnosis for a cohort of Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) and non-Māori (non-Indigenous) young people. We have focused on understanding the opportunities for better outcomes for Māori by examining the relative advantage of non-Māori with FEP.

Method

Statistics New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure was accessed to describe mental health and social service interactions and outcomes for a retrospective FEP cohort comprising 918 young Māori and 1275 non-Māori aged 13 to 25 at diagnosis. Logistic regression models were used to examine whether social outcomes including employment, benefit receipt, education and justice involvement in year 5 differed by indigeneity.

Results

Non-Māori young people were more likely than Māori to have positive outcomes in the fifth year after FEP diagnosis, including higher levels of employment and income, and lower rates of benefit receipt and criminal justice system involvement. These patterns were seen across diagnostic groups, and for both those receiving ongoing mental healthcare and those who were not.

Conclusions

Non-Māori experience relative advantage in outcomes 5 years after FEP diagnosis. Indigenous-based social disparities following FEP urgently require a response from the health, education, employment, justice and political systems to avoid perpetuating these inequities, alongside efforts to address the disadvantages faced by all young people with FEP.

Information

Type
Paper
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists
Figure 0

Table 1 Demographic and clinical factors at first episode psychosis (FEP) diagnosisa

Figure 1

Table 2 Functional/social outcomes 5 years after first episode psychosis (FEP) diagnosis for non-Māori compared with Māori

Figure 2

Table 3 Functional/social outcomes at year 5 by baseline first episode psychosis diagnosis for non-Māori compared with Māori

Figure 3

Table 4 Specialist mental health service contact in year 5 after first episode psychosis diagnosis

Figure 4

Table 5 Functional and social outcomes 5 years after first episode psychosis diagnosis by ethnicity and level of ongoing service contact

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