The purpose of this report is to present a Māori world view of factors that contribute to discrimination of people who have experienced — or continue to experience — mental distress.

The focus in this research is on Māori and recognises that discrimination associated with mental distress has many causative factors including colonisation, racism, socio-economic deprivation, different perspectives on ‘mental distress’, historic separation of mental health from other health problems, and the longstanding societal disregard for people who experience mental distress.

A critical Kaupapa Māori collation of relevant literature is presented that unpacks the root causes and institutional drivers of discrimination against Māori who experience mental distress.

This research aims to inform a Kaupapa Māori approach to Nōku te Ao that prioritises Māori.