Stigma surrounding mental illness in Tonga is the main stumbling block in delivering and improving mental health services here, said Dr Mapa Puloka, who faces many negative or discriminatory attitudes towards mental illness in his work and workplace. In Tonga, stigmatized behaviour towards mental illness includes ridicule (luma‘i), mocking (fakakata‘aki), and neglecting (hanga kehe mei ai).
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Results for mental health
Wednesday 23 October 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 11 October 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
On World Mental Health Day yesterday, Tonga launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) program. Ministry of Health CEO, Dr. Reynold 'Ofanoa, said this program is the beginning of a crucial journey to improve mental health and psychosocial support services in Tonga.
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Thursday 5 September 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Ngalu Fānifo Regional Project is a Pacific-led project that aims to improve mental health and wellbeing in Tonga and Vanuatu, by strengthening the capacity of health and community providers to provide mental health care. The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) will led the three-year programme, in partnership with Tonga and Vanuatu Ministries of Health, and funded by the Australian Government.
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Tuesday 18 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A psychiatric nurse died in hospital on Sunday from serious injuries sustained in the psychiatric unit at the Hu'atolitoli Prison. The deceased, Samiuela Mafi, a psychiatric nurse at Vaiola Hospital, was allegedly attacked by a patient on 8 June. In a statement last week, HM Prisons said they lacked the strength to support and guard the unit. Earlier, in March, Tonga's Head Psychiatrist warned that because Tonga had never established a drugs rehabilitation centre the extra workload on the psychiatric ward was beyond the reach of the public health and voluntary services available. By Matangi Tonga reporters.
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Friday 12 July 2019
Geneva, Switzerland
An account of trauma will serve as a reminder to leaders around the world that violence, mental and sexual trauma, and substance abuse are interrelated issues that can have a deep and lasting impact on the lives of children. The evidence for this is overwhelming. This includes online abuse. The impact of violence lasts long after the abuse itself. Victims often experience lifelong social, emotional, and cognitive consequence and are more likely to become abusers themselves. By Zoleka Mandela, Etienne Krug, and Howard Taylor.
Thursday 23 May 2019
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's drugs problem is on the rise, “like a cancer in the community,” says Psychiatric Specialist, Dr Mapa Puloka, who warns that government is too slow in tackling the epidemic and needs to urgently prioritize more funding before it gets out of hand. He issues a stark prognosis: “If they can’t stop it...what will happen is drug dealers or drug lords will run our government and end up being their puppets because of the power of money.” By Eleanor Gee.
Wednesday 10 January 2018
London, United Kingdom
Since Donald Trump took over the United States presidency a year ago, doubts over his mental stability and his very sanity have been mounting. But, beyond claiming on Twitter that he is a “very stable genius,” what could Trump actually do to prove that he is psychologically fit for what, by some definitions, is the world’s highest office? There is no clear physical test for mental illness. By Raj Persaud and Peter Bruggen
Tuesday 10 October 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Do not look at our disabilities but focus on our abilities, said Rhema Misser a person living with physical disability for 54-years during the opening of the first "Langi Ma’a: Tonga National Mental Health and Disabilities Symposium" on October 9-13.
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Wednesday 4 October 2017
London, United Kingdom
This weekend, Stephen Paddock opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, from an overlooking hotel, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 500 others. Paddock, a 64-year-old former accountant with no criminal record, was ultimately found in his hotel room, dead, with some 23 guns, including more than ten assault weapons. Police later found an additional 19 firearms, explosives, and several thousands of rounds of ammunition in Paddock’s home. What the authorities have not yet found, however, is a motive.
Thursday 14 August 2014
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Sydney, Australia
Suicide rates in Pacific Islands are some of the highest in the world reaching up to 30 per 100,000 in countries such as Samoa, Guam and Micronesia, doubling the global average, with youth rates even higher.
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Monday 31 March 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan secondary students were warned of drug dealers and the effects of drug use at a lecture held at the Kalofiama 'O Epworth Hall on Friday March 28, in Nuku’alofa.
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Friday 19 April 2013
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Head Psychiatrist Dr Mapa Puloka says family violence is causing mental health problems in Tonga. “Domestic violence is in some ways similar to incest, it’s a topic that no one wants to talk about….it has come to a point where a lot of Tongans see it as culturally appropriate and tolerate it…we need to talk about it and raise the awareness of the problem,” he said. - By Finau Fonua.
Tuesday 9 April 2013
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Violence is a learned behavior. Community violence is a traumatic event that is a bad symptom of something that has reached deep into our society. It is a behavior of citizens who are stressed, who are trying to cope and solve problems. Some of the sources of stress include poverty, lack of housing, joblessness, family pressures, and hopelessness. ...In random community violence, like we are seeing here in Tongatapu, there are no warnings. This should make us all realize that something like this could happen to us. By Kristi Seymour.
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