A national cohort study has found that non-Māori experience relative advantage over Māori for outcomes five years after a diagnosis of first episode psychosis (FEP). The study used Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure to describe mental health and social service interactions and outcomes for 918 Māori and 1275 non-Māori who were aged 13 to 25 years at the time of FEP diagnosis. Compared with Māori, non-Māori were more likely to have positive outcomes in the fifth year after FEP diagnosis, including higher employment and income levels, and lower rates of benefit receipt and involvement with the criminal justice system. Ethnic disparity was seen across diagnostic groups, and occurred in those who were receiving ongoing care and those who were not.
