Mental health is essential to the overall wellbeing of individuals. The Ministry of Health 2020/21 reported that 9.6% of adults experience psychological distress. Compared to non-Māori, Māori adults have a 50.7% lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders, with anxiety disorders being most common at 31.3%. Several meta-analyses have shown the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy for generalised anxiety disorders. Furthermore, low heart rate variability (HRV) has been linked with mental health issues.
The project aims to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a heart-based mindfulness intervention for adults with anxiety disorders in primary healthcare settings at Turanga Health in Gisborne.
Te Tītoki Mataora Medtech Research Translator
Andrew Lowe (lead), Ekta Dahiya, Wagner Hoffmann
University of Auckland, Turanga Health