FauGagana Podcast: A Samoan Mental Health Nurse’s Perspective on Mental Health

The FauGagana Podcast was founded by Dr Mulipola in October 2023 and launched in July 2024.

The FauGagana podcast is the first Pacific nurse-led initiative that started the conversation about mental health in the Samoan language.  This was driven by Dr Mulipola’s doctorate findings where Samoan mental health service consumers often found that language and cultural values were often not reflected in care.

The podcast has since published Season 1 and 2, a total of 32 episodes and over 2500 downloads from 37 countries and 152 cities.

Season 1 focused on clinical information about seeking mental health service support and care.  Samoan mental health clinicians and health professionals contributed to different episodes focusing on causes and symptoms, diagnosis, treatments including non-pharmacological approaches, and how to access services.

Season 2 shifted the focus to cultural practices and values to understand mental health within the Aganu’u Fa’aSamoa.  Samoan experts broadened to include academics, a traditional healer, church leaders, and family matai.  The episodes were focused on the fa’a matai role as family and community leaders, traditional methods to heal mental distress, the therapeutic role of church, and why strengthening and serving family obligation and connection is achieving mental wellness for all Samoans.

The key insights and learnings from both previous seasons are helping to provide a strategic direction for Season 3 and future content.