Think Twice, Play Nice: Occupational Therapy Tool To Reduce Social Bullying In A School Setting

The purpose of this project was to create an anti-bullying program kit to enable faculty and staff at Highland Elementary School to decrease social bullying by encouraging positive social behaviors, teaching interpersonal skills, and facilitating appropriate group play at school

Indigenous adolescent health in Aotearoa New Zealand: Trends, policy and advancing equity for rangatahi Māori, 2001–2019

Background Rangatahi Maori, the Indigenous adolescents of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), have poorer health outcomes than Pakeha (NZ European/other European/“White”) adolescents. We explored the influence of policies for Indigenous youth by presenting health trends, inequities and contrasting policy case examples: tobacco control and healthcare access. Methods Cross-sectional representative surveys of NZ secondary school students were undertaken in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2019. Health indicators are presented for Maori and Pakeha adolescents (relative risks with 95% CI, calculated using modified Poisson regression) between 2001−2019 and 2012−2019. Policy examples were examined utilising Critical Te Tiriti Analysis (CTA). Findings Rangatahi Maori reported significant health gains between 2001 and 2019, but an increase in depressive symptoms (13.8% in 2012 to 27.9% in 2019, RR 2.01 [1.65−2.46]). Compared to Pakeha youth there was a pattern of persistent Maori disadvantage, particularly for racism (RR 2.27 [2.08−2.47]), depressive symptoms (RR 1.42 [1.27−1.59]) and forgone healthcare (RR 1.63 [1.45−1.84]). Tobacco use inequities narrowed (RR 2.53 [2.12−3.02] in 2007 to RR 1.55 [1.25−1.93] in 2019). CTA reveals rangatahi Maori-specific policies, Maori leadership, and political support aligned with improved outcomes and narrowing inequities. Interpretation Age-appropriate Indigenous strategies are required to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities for rangatahi Maori. Characteristics of effective strategies include: (1) evidence-based, sustained, and comprehensive approaches including both universal levers and Indigenous youth-specific policies; (2) Indigenous and rangatahi leadership; (3) the political will to address Indigenous youth rights, preferences, priorities; and (4) a commitment to an anti-racist praxis and healthcare Indigenisation