scholarly journals Mental health and well‐being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia during COVID‐19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat Dudgeon ◽  
Joanna Alexi ◽  
Kate Derry ◽  
Tom Brideson ◽  
Tom Calma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Health And Well Being

Recent developments in suicide prevention among the Indigenous peoples of Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat Dudgeon ◽  
Christopher Holland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Torres Strait

Objectives: Suicide is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter ‘Indigenous’) population health issue. Over 2015–2016, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Project (ATSISPEP) aimed to identify success factors in Indigenous suicide prevention. Conclusions: For non-Indigenous practitioners working with indigenous clients at risk of suicide, ATSISPEP identified important considerations to make treatment more effective. The start is acknowledging the differences in the historical, cultural, political, social and economic experiences of Indigenous peoples, and their greater exposure to trauma, psychological distress and risks to mental health. These mental health difficulties are specific and more prevalent amongst Indigenous peoples and communities due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation in Australia including a range of social determinants impacting on the well-being of Indigenous peoples today. Working effectively with Indigenous clients also includes being able to establish culturally safe work environments, and the ability of non-Indigenous practitioners to work in a culturally competent and trauma-informed manner. There are also considerations regarding time protocols and client follow-up. Further, postvention responses might be required. Supporting selective suicide prevention activity among younger people (and other groups at increased risk) and community-level work is an important complement to working with Indigenous individuals at risk of suicide.

Discrimination experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males in Australia: Associations with suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742110311
Author(s):  
Tilahun Haregu ◽  
Anthony F Jorm ◽  
Yin Paradies ◽  
Bernard Leckning ◽  
Jesse T Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Torres Strait

Introduction: Globally, Indigenous populations have higher rates of suicidal behavior and psychological distress compared to non-Indigenous populations. Indigenous populations also report high rates of exposure to discrimination, which could potentially contribute to poor mental health outcomes. The objectives of this paper were to estimate the prevalence of discrimination among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males in Australia and to examine the role of discrimination in the association between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status and suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms. Methods: We used cross-sectional data on 13,697 males aged 18–55 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health. We undertook a Poisson regression with robust standard error analyses to examine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status and self-perceived exposure to discrimination in the past 2 years as correlates of recent suicidal ideation. We used zero-inflated negative binomial regression to assess Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status and self-perceived exposure to discrimination as correlates of recent depressive symptoms. Results: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males have a twofold higher prevalence of self-perceived discrimination (39.2% vs 19.3%, p < 0.001), suicidal ideation (21.8% vs 9.4%, p < 0.001) and moderate or worse depressive symptoms (24.0% vs 12.2%, p < 0.001) as compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. After adjusting for sociodemographics and substance use, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status was significantly associated with suicidal thoughts (odds ratio = 1.49, p = 0.019) and depressive symptoms (prevalence rate ratio = 1.19, p = 0.018). About 15.3% and 28.7% of the association between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status and suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms, respectively, was explained by discrimination. Conclusion: Our analyses add to evidence that discrimination is a contributor to mental health disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous populations in Australia. Reducing discrimination ought to be considered as part of strategies to improve the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

scholarly journals Realist Review of Programs, Policies, and Interventions to Enhance the Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People Living in Out-of-Home Care

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Lindstedt ◽  
Kristen Moeller-Saxone ◽  
Carly Black ◽  
Helen Herrman ◽  
Josef Szwarc
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Torres Strait

The child protection system in Australia includes out-of-home care (OoHC) for children and young people at risk of harm and neglect. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are 9 times more likely to be placed in care than non-Aboriginal young people (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015). Australia’s history of colonization and subsequent policies have caused trauma to individuals, families, and communities and resulted in poor physical and mental health and mistrust of services. This review was undertaken to identify programs and policies currently in place that aim to improve the mental health and well-being of this vulnerable population. It provides an analysis of both the strengths of the current system as well as what has been inadequately addressed based on literature in the area.By incorporating an Aboriginal perspective, this review focuses on social, emotional, and spiritual well-being (SESWB) and the aspects of a child’s life and community that promote this. A realist review of the academic and grey literature was conducted in 2014. It included an extensive search of government and non-government (NGO) publications. The review identified nine programs or policies that are designed to improve the SESWB of Aboriginal young people in OoHC in local and international settings. These are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, cultural support plans, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), family group decision-making, therapeutic care, and Panyappi Mentoring Program. Given that culturally competent service provision is important to SESWB, the review concludes that an increase in monitoring and evaluation is necessary to determine the effectiveness of programs and ensure their implementation and sustainability when warranted. Policy and research work is needed to adapt and devise programs promoting the SESWB of Aboriginal young people (at both the individual and system levels), determine their effectiveness, and ensure they are sustained when warranted.

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