Yamada Ann-Marie, Vaivao Dorothy Etimani S, Subica Andrew M
Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California.
Samoan National Nurses Association.
Asian Am J Psychol. 2019 Sep;10(3):227-238. doi: 10.1037/aap0000140.
While a variety of health concerns have been documented, little is presently known about the mental health challenges facing Samoan Americans in Southern California. This community-based research study investigated the perspectives of Samoan healthcare providers affiliated with two Los Angeles County agencies regarding: 1) mental health challenges; 2) obstacles to use of formal services to address mental health concerns, and 3) recommendations and needed resources for development of culturally responsive interventions to address mental health challenges. Eleven healthcare advocates affiliated with two agencies specializing in health and social services for Samoans participated in a 90-minute group discussion and/or an individual interview. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic data analytic approach based on grounded theory. Participants strongly self-identified as Samoan or mixed-race Samoan and were primarily female (73%). Key themes from these discussions are presented to highlight this seminal discussion. Despite concerns regarding substance use, depression, and suicide, significant cultural resources were noted as sources of resilience that could be incorporated into prevention and intervention for Samoan Americans coping with mental health problems. The perspectives of these community advocates for the Samoan community reflect a low level of mental health awareness and identify urgent unmet mental health needs among Samoan Americans in Southern California. Findings support prioritization of mental health awareness interventions and education regarding available services. Systemic efforts to integrate physical and mental health care services may be aligned with traditional Pacific Islander concepts of mental health and facilitate addressing the unmet mental health needs of underserved Samoan Americans.
虽然已经记录了各种健康问题，但目前对于南加州美属萨摩亚人所面临的心理健康挑战知之甚少。这项基于社区的研究调查了与洛杉矶县两个机构相关联的美属萨摩亚医疗服务提供者对于以下方面的看法：1）心理健康挑战；2）使用正规服务来解决心理健康问题的障碍；3）针对心理健康挑战制定具有文化适应性干预措施的建议和所需资源。与两个专门为美属萨摩亚人提供健康和社会服务的机构相关联的11名医疗倡导者参加了一场90分钟的小组讨论和/或个人访谈。使用基于扎根理论的主题数据分析方法对定性数据进行了分析。参与者强烈自我认同为美属萨摩亚人或混血美属萨摩亚人，且主要为女性（73%）。呈现这些讨论中的关键主题以突出这场具有开创性的讨论。尽管存在对药物使用、抑郁症和自杀的担忧，但重要的文化资源被视为恢复力的来源，可纳入对应对心理健康问题的美属萨摩亚人的预防和干预措施中。这些美属萨摩亚社区倡导者的观点反映出心理健康意识水平较低，并确定了南加州美属萨摩亚人迫切未得到满足的心理健康需求。研究结果支持将心理健康意识干预措施和关于现有服务的教育作为优先事项。整合身心健康护理服务的系统性努力可能与太平洋岛民传统的心理健康观念相一致，并有助于满足未得到充分服务的美属萨摩亚人未得到满足的心理健康需求。
