Dr Jemaima Sipaea Tiatia-Seath
PhD, DPH, MA (Hons), BA
Biography
Jemaima Tiatia-Seath is the Co-Head of School, Te Wānanga o Waipapa, School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies, University of Auckland. She is of Samoan descent and has a public/community health background. She was one of six panellists on the New Zealand Government’s 2018 Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry. Her research interests include: Pacific Studies, mental health and wellbeing, suicide prevention and postvention, health inequities, climate change and youth development.
Research | Current
- Principal investigator - for Health Research Council of NZ (HRC) funded - 'Climate Change and Mental Wellbeing: The Impacts on Pacific Peoples’ (2019).
- Principal investigator - Pacific Health Research Knowledge Translation project, 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/G Introduction to Pacific Studies
PACIFIC 213 Pacific Wellbeing: Empowering Dimensions
PACFIC 313 Pacific Wellbeing: Empowering Dimensions
PACIFIC 711 Intervention, Prevention and Promotion of Pacific Wellbeing
PACIFIC 714 Pacific Research Methodologies and Practices
Postgraduate supervision
PhD in progress
2019: Sarah McLean-Orsborn - Depression in young Samoan females. Pacific Studies, University of Auckland
2019: Veisinia Pulu-Lakai - Co-designing a community-based intervention programme for prediabetes. Pacific Health, Massey University (with Dr Ridvan Firestone and Prof. Barry Borman)
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
2020: Melemanu Fainga'a - Trauma-Informed Care for Tongans in Aotearoa New Zealand, Master of Arts, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland
Masters completed
2020: 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
2019: Sarah McLean - Depression in young Samoan females: The views of mental health service providers, Master of Arts, Pacific Studies, University of Auckland
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
Responsibilities
Co-Head of School - School of Maori Studies and Pacific Studies
Academic Head - Pacific Studies
Areas of expertise
- Suicide prevention and postvention
- Pacific health and wellbeing
- Mental health
- Pacific Studies
- Youth development
- Pacific cultural competencies
- Injury prevention
Committees/Professional groups/Services
2018: Government Appointment to the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry
2016-current: Appointment to the Health Research Council Public Health Research Committee
2017-2018: Member of the New Zealand Rugby League NZ Wellbeing Committee
2014-2017: Ministerial Appointment 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
2014-2018: 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
Reviewer for:
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
Pacific Health Dialog
Journal of Indigenous Wellbeing: Te Mauri - Pimatisiwin
New Zealand Medical Journal
BWB Books
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
Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)
- Tiatia-Seath, J., Lay-Yee, R., & von Randow, M. (2019). Supporting the bereavement needs of Pacific communities in New Zealand following a suicide: A survey of service providers. Suicidology Online, 10, 1-8. Related URL.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Roy Lay-Yee - Marsters, C., & Tiatia-Seath, J. (2019). Young Pacific Male Rugby Players’ Perceptions and Experiences of Mental Wellbeing. Sports, 7 (4), 1-19. 10.3390/sports7040083
- Clark, T. C., Le Grice, J., Moselen, E., Fleming, T., Crengle, S., Tiatia-Seath, J., & Lewycka, S. (2018). Health and wellbeing of Māori secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 42 (6), 553-561. 10.1111/1753-6405.12839
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Terryann Clark, Jade Le Grice - Patterson, R., Durie, M., Disley, B., Tiatia-Seath, J., & Tualamali'i. J (2018). He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction. Wellington, New Zealand: Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction. Related URL.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Ron Paterson - Tiatia-Seath, J., Underhill-Sem, Y., & Woodward, A. (2018). The nexus between climate change, mental health and wellbeing and Pacific peoples. Pacific Health Dialog, 21 (2), 47-49. 10.26635/phd.2018.911
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/45867 - Tiatia-Seath, J. (2018). Damon Salesa, Island time: New Zealand’s Pacific futures [Book review]. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples10.1177/1177180118767434
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/42443 - Thabrew, H., Gandeza, E., Bahr, G., Bettany, D., Bampton, C., Cooney, E., ... Tiatia-Seath, J. (2018). The management of young people who self-harm by New Zealand Infant, child and adolescent mental health services: cutting-edge or cutting corners?. Australasian Psychiatry10.1177/1039856217748248
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/40620
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Hiran Thabrew - Tiatia-Seath, J. (2018). The importance of Pacific cultural competency in healthcare. Pacific Health Dialog, 21 (1), 8-9. 10.26635/phd.2018.909
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/40804
Identifiers
Contact details
Office hours
By appointment
Primary office location
FALE - OFFICE BUILDING - Bldg 273
Level 1, Room 103B
20 WYNYARD ST
AUCKLAND 1010
New Zealand
