title: Strengthening research capacity in the Pacific: an example from the Atoifi Health Research Group, Solomon Islands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an example of one model of research capacity building for mental health from a remote setting in Solomon Islands.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Atoifi Health Research Group is building health research capacity with a health service on the remote east coast of Malaita, Solomon Islands. The group uses a 'learn-by-doing' approach embedded in health service and community-level health projects. The group is eclectic in nature and deliberately engages a variety of partners to discover culturally informed methods of collecting, analysing and disseminating research findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key successes of the Atoifi Health Research Group are: that it was initiated by Solomon Islanders with self-expressed desire to learn about research; the learn-by-doing model; inclusion of community people to inform questions and socio-cultural appropriateness; and commitment to ongoing support by international researchers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given different social, cultural, economic, geographic, spiritual and service contexts across the Pacific, locally appropriate approaches need to be considered. Such approaches challenge the orthodox approach of centralized investment to replicate specialist driven approaches of funder nations. Increasing expertise at all levels through participatory capacity building models that define and address local problems may be more sustainable and responsive to local mental health contexts.
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia david.maclaren@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacLaren
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Instructor, Malaita Province, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Asugeni
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Officer, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Redman-MacLaren
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building; D006801:Humans; D008542:Melanesia; D008603:Mental Health; D016730:Program Development; D012106:Research
keywords: Atoifi Health Research Group; Solomon Islands; capacity building; international partnerships; mental health; participatory approaches; research capacity