Closing the rehabilitation utilization gap of New Zealand's (Aotearoa) Maori people: Multiple case studies

We aimed to explore personal factors in use of rehabilitation counseling and mental health services by Maori adults. Participants were threeMaori adults (females = 2, residing in major urban settings, age range 45-50 years old; male = 1, residing in a rural setting, age range = 25-30 years old). Thematic analysis yielded the following findings: (a) a preference ofMaori service providers who understand whanau culture, (b) an understanding of whakapapa or the family structure as an integral source of social support as counselors are planning for treatment, (c) establishing and maintaining trusting relationships within the Maori community by non-Maori counselors, (d) having financial difficulties when attempting to access rehabilitation resources, (e) limited access to health care facilities and services or lack of information about the services available, and (f) a general mistrust of government operated systems. Rehabilitation and mental health services with Maori should address personal cultural and systemic exclusion factors for better service engagement.