Asiasiga i A’oga ma Nu’u: a child and adolescent post-tsunami intervention based on Indigenous Samoan values

Abstract

Objective:

To describe a community-based single-session group intervention designed to address psychosocial needs of Samoan young people following a tsunami.

Method:

This programme resulted from collaboration between Samoan therapists, Samoan Catholic pastoral care workers and non-Samoan mental health clinicians. Informed by Samoan concepts of self and wellbeing, it incorporated cultural and spiritual practices familiar to Samoan young people and their families as well as body-centred therapeutic techniques, the ‘Tree of life’ exercise and provision of a cooked meal.

Results:

Following household visits to affected families in villages throughout southern and eastern Upolu and the island of Manono, the programme was devised and carried out in 11 villages with 1295 children participating. There was a high degree of acceptance of the programme by Pulenu’u (village governance leaders), young people, their families and community members.

Conclusions:

Interventions to address the psychological needs of Indigenous Pacific children and adolescents following a major disaster need to be embedded in the values of their communities. This paper describes an innovative programme based on Samoan values that was consistent with evidence-informed principles used to guide post-disaster responses.