Study to help Pacific Islands youth talk about mental illness

Wollongong project aims to develop strategies for culturally sensitive counselling and medical services

Many Pacific Islands languages may not have “adequate terms and phrases” to describe mental illness, and there is a reluctance among Pacific Islands communities to seek counselling or medical support, a University of Wollongong academic has said.

Jioji Ravulo, a social work professor with the university’s school of health and society, has received a $170,000 federal research grant to investigate the prevalence and impact of mental illness among Pacific Islands communities in Australia.