Objective: To examine whether being an organizer in a community organizing program improves personal agency and self-reported mental health outcomes among low-income Pacific Island youth in Auckland, New Zealand.
Method: Counties Manukau Health initiated a community organizing campaign led and run by Pacific Island youth. We used interviews, focus groups and pre- and post-campaign surveys to examine changes among 30 youths as a result of the campaign.
Results: Ten youths completed both pre- and post-campaign surveys. Eleven youths participated in focus groups, and four in interviews. Overall, youths reported an increased sense of agency and improvements to their mental health.
Conclusions: Community organizing has potential as a preventive approach to improving mental health and developing agency over health among disempowered populations.
Keywords: Pacific Island; agency; community organizing; mental health; youth.
© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.