Matt DuaSenior Clinical Psychologist, Anxiety Disorder Service (ADS), Health New Zealand
Matt Dua is a Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Anxiety Disorders Service (ADS) within Health New Zealand, where he specialises in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and trauma-related conditions. He also runs a private practice supporting clients with a range of mental and physical health challenges.
Following the March 15th attacks, Matt was involved in psychological first aid initiatives at the University of Canterbury, and later co-led the Afiya Men’s Group - a group therapy program run by the Canterbury District Health Board and Christchurch Resettlement Services for men affected by the Mosque Attacks. |
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More recently, Matt has led ADS’s Asian Outreach Initiative and contributed to wider service-based efforts focused on cultural responsiveness, community engagement, and improving access to care for migrant and refugee-background populations. He has also been part of a research review examining Chinese mental health in New Zealand.
Clinically, Matt’s interests include anxiety, trauma, digital use addiction, and migrant mental health.
Clinically, Matt’s interests include anxiety, trauma, digital use addiction, and migrant mental health.
Becoming the Right Fit: Initiatives for Improving Our Connection with Migrant Clients
Migrant and refugee-background populations are often under-represented in mental health services, despite experiencing significant levels of anxiety, trauma-related distress, and barriers to accessing care. Differences in language, cultural understandings of mental health, stigma, and how distress is expressed can contribute to under-engagement, delayed intervention, and increased burden on wider health systems.
This talk explores what it means to become the right fit for migrant clients, rather than expecting clients to adapt to existing models of care. Drawing on clinical and service-level experience, the talk will briefly outline initiatives aimed at improving engagement and connection, including the Anxiety Disorders Service Asian Outreach Initiative and community-based work with the Islamic community through the Afiya Men’s Group.
Using these initiatives as illustrative examples, the talk will highlight practical adaptations and approaches that have supported engagement, particularly in response to differences in how anxiety and psychological distress are communicated and expressed across cultural contexts. The presentation will conclude with reflections and emerging lessons that may support improved engagement, understanding, trust, and access to care for migrant clients within health settings.
This talk explores what it means to become the right fit for migrant clients, rather than expecting clients to adapt to existing models of care. Drawing on clinical and service-level experience, the talk will briefly outline initiatives aimed at improving engagement and connection, including the Anxiety Disorders Service Asian Outreach Initiative and community-based work with the Islamic community through the Afiya Men’s Group.
Using these initiatives as illustrative examples, the talk will highlight practical adaptations and approaches that have supported engagement, particularly in response to differences in how anxiety and psychological distress are communicated and expressed across cultural contexts. The presentation will conclude with reflections and emerging lessons that may support improved engagement, understanding, trust, and access to care for migrant clients within health settings.
