Dr Jemaima Sipaea Tiatia-Seath

Biography

Jemaima Tiatia-Seath is currently Co-Head of School and Head of Pacific Studies (Acting), Te Wānanga o Waipapa, School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies, University of Auckland. She is of Samoan descent and has a community/public health background. She is one of six panelists on the government's Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry. Her research interests include: mental health, Pacific suicide prevention and postvention, youth development, Pacific health and wellbeing and inequities and inequalities in health.

Research | Current

• Principal investigator - Pacific Health Research Knowledge Translation project, Health Research Council of NZ (HRC) funded - 'Heilala Malu – Tongan Framework for Suicide Prevention Resource’ (2017).
• Principal investigator for Te Ra o Te Waka Hourua funded - 'Pacific Suicide Postvention Guidelines' with Hibiscus Research Ltd (2017).
• Principal investigator for Te Ra o Te Waka Hourua funded - 'Suicide Postvention: Support for Pacific Communities' with Hibiscus Research Ltd (2016) http://hdl.handle.net/2292/32391
• Co-investigator - The University of Auckland Adolescent Health Research Group https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/faculty/adolescent-health-research-group.html
• Principal investigator - HRC and Ministry of Health Pacific Partnership Programme funded project - ‘Suicide Prevention for Tongan Youth in New Zealand' (2015).
• Postdoctoral Pacific Health Research Fellowship HRC funded - 'Suicide and Samoans: The Journey Towards Prevention’ (2014).
• HRC Pacific Health PhD Research Award - ‘Reasons to Live: NZ-born Samoan Young People's Responses to Suicidal Behaviours’ (2003).
• Principal investigator - HRC Project Grant - ‘Pacific Youth Emergency Department Suicide Study’ (2000).  

Teaching | Current

PACIFIC 100 -  Introduction to Pacific Studies, Semester 1, 2019

PACIFIC 213/313 - Pacific Wellbeing: Empowering Dimensions, Semester 1, 2018

PACIFIC 702 - Topics in Pacific Research, Semester 1, 2019

PACIFIC 105 - The Contemporary Pacific, Semester 2, 2019

PACIFIC 711 - TIntervention, Prevention and Promotion of Pacific Wellbeing 2, 2019

Postgraduate supervision

PhD in progress

2017: Caleb Marsters - Run it straight! - Pasifika men, mental wellbeing and elite sports, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland

2016: Therese Kiely - Pacific young women’s images of God and mental wellbeing (with Caroline Blyth). Theology,  University of Auckland

2015: Eliza Puna - Cook Islands youth: Positive mental health wellbeing and suicide prevention. Pacific Studies, University of Auckland

 

Masters in progress

2018: Pauline Rupeni - Akaupokotuanga i te Reo Māori: Learnings from Cook Islands communities and their youth (with Marcia Leenen-Young). Master of Arts, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland

 

Masters completed

2018: Joanna Minster -  Cultural resilience and mental wellbeing among multi-ethnic Cook Islands young adults. Master of Public Health, School of Population Health, University of Auckland

2018: Sonia Pope - Exploring the intergenerational views of wellbeing among Tongan women (with Tanya Samu). Master of Arts, Education, University of Auckland

2018: Rose Palmer -  Factors that foster positive mental health status in unpaid at-home caregivers for the elderly in New Zealand (with Ngaire Kerse). Dissertation for Master of Public Health, School of Population Health, University of Auckland

2018: Sili Pita - Navigating the historical context of incest in Samoa: 1900’s–2000s (with Damon Salesa). Master of Arts, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland

2017: Caleb Marsters - Young Pacific male athletes and positive mental health wellbeing. Master of Public Health, Pacific Health, University of Auckland

2016: Tony Patolo - Exploring young Pacific tertiary students’ views and experiences of bullying. Master of Arts, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland

2016: Desiree Chan Chui - Violence against women in Samoa: 1970s-1990s (with Damon Salesa). Master of Arts, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland

2015: Cecelia Faumuina Khaka - Malanga: The voice of positive dissonance. Master of Philosophy - Art and Design, AUT (with Dr Webley Ings and David Sinfield)

2013: Eliza Puna - New Zealand born Cook Islands youth views towards positive mental wellbeing and suicide prevention. Master of Public Health, University of Auckland

2013: Drollet Joseph - Culturally competent approaches in reducing obesity for Cook Islands people in New Zealand. Dissertation for Master of Arts, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland

Areas of expertise

• Pacific suicide prevention, postvention and research 
• Pacific health and wellbeing 
• Youth development 
• Pacific studies
• Mental health 
• Pacific cultural competencies
• Injury prevention

Committees/Professional groups/Services

2018: Ministerial Appointment to the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry

2017-current: Member of the New Zealand Rugby League NZ Wellbeing Committee

2014-2017: Appointed to the Health Quality & Safety Commission’s New Zealand Suicide Mortality Review Committee

2016-2017: Appointed to Unitec’s Standing Committee, Fono Faufautua Council 

2016-2017: Committee member of the Health Promotion Agency's National Depression Initiative Advisory Group 

2014-current: Committee member of the Mental Health Foundation's Suicide Bereavement Advisory 

2014-current: Member of Ara Taiohi: For People Working with Young People

2014-current: Member of the International Association for Suicide Prevention

2012-2014: Member of the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry

2005-current: Member of PACIFICA (Pacific Allied Women’s Council Inspires Faith and Ideals Concerning All) Auckland Central Branch

 

Reviewer for:

Pacific Health Dialog

Journal of Indigenous Wellbeing: Te Mauri - Pimatisiwin

New Zealand Medical Journal

Kotuitui: NZ Journal of Social Sciences 

Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology

Pacific Health Review

International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare

Journal of Primary Health Care

Religions