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.

scholarly journals Ngaa-bi-nya Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program evaluation framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Williams
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Social Programs ◽  
Cultural Leadership ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Torres Strait Islander Health

The Ngaa-bi-nya framework presented here is a practical guide for the evaluation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and social programs. It has a range of prompts to stimulate thinking about critical success factors in programs relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s lives. Ngaa-bi-nya was designed from an Aboriginal practitioner-scholar standpoint and was informed by the holistic concept of Aboriginal health, case studies with Aboriginal-led social and emotional well-being programs, human rights instruments, and the work of Stufflebeam. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and social programs have been described as suffering from a lack of evaluation. Ngaa-bi-nya is one of the few tools developed specifically to reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ contexts. It prompts the user to take into account the historical, policy, and social landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s lives, existing and emerging cultural leadership, and informal caregiving that supports programs. Ngaa-bi-nya’s prompts across four domains—landscape factors, resources, ways of working, and learnings—provide a structure through which to generate insights necessary for the future development of culturally relevant, effective, translatable, and sustainable programs required for Australia’s growing and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

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 Usage and Acceptability of the iBobbly App: Pilot Trial for Suicide Prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth

10.2196/14296 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e14296
Author(s):  
Joseph Tighe ◽  
Fiona Shand ◽  
Kathy McKay ◽  
Taylor-Jai Mcalister ◽  
Andrew Mackinnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Torres Strait

Background The proliferation of mental health apps purporting to target and improve psychological wellbeing is ever-growing and also concerning: Few apps have been rigorously evaluated, and, indeed, the safety of the vast majority of them has not been determined. Over 10,000 self-help apps exist but most are not used much after being downloaded. Gathering and analyzing usage data and the acceptability of apps are critical to inform consumers, researchers, and app developers. Objective This paper presents pilot usage and acceptability data from the iBobbly suicide prevention app, an app distributed through a randomized controlled trial. Methods Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants from the Kimberley region of Western Australia completed a survey measuring their technology use in general (n=13), and data on their experiences with and views of the iBobbly app were also collected in semistructured interviews (n=13) and thematically analyzed. Finally, engagement with the app, such as the number of sessions completed and time spent on various acceptance-based therapeutic activities, was analyzed (n=18). Both groups were participants in the iBobbly app pilot randomized controlled trial (n=61) completed in 2015. Results Regression analysis indicated that app use improved psychological outcomes, although only minimally, and effects were not significant. However, results of the thematic analysis indicated that the iBobbly app was deemed effective, acceptable, and culturally appropriate by those interviewed. Conclusions There is a scarcity of randomized controlled trials and eHealth interventions in Indigenous communities, while extremely high rates of psychological distress and suicide persist. In this environment, studies that can add evidence from mixed-methods approaches are important. While the regression analysis in this study did not indicate a significant effect of app use on psychological wellbeing, this was predictable considering the small sample size (n=18) and typically brief app use. The results on engagement with the iBobbly app were however positive. This study showed that Indigenous youth are early and frequent users of technology in general, and they regarded the iBobbly app to be culturally safe and of therapeutic value. Qualitative analyses demonstrated that iBobbly app use was associated with self-reported improvements in psychological wellbeing, mental health literacy, and reductions in shame. Importantly, participants reported that they would recommend other similar apps if available to their peers.

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.

scholarly journals Caring Cards to and from Veterans: A Treatment Manual

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blaire Ehret
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Research Collaboration ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Treatment Manual ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Increased Risk

Caring Cards (CC) is a novel group-based approach to Veteran suicide prevention. Inspired by caring contacts for suicide prevention (Motto &amp; Bostrom, 2001), CC creatively leverages Veterans’ lived experience with mental health conditions to help other Veterans at increased risk for suicide. In CC, Veterans meet weekly as a group to create one-of-a-kind cards that are sent to their peers. CC provides a safe, creative, and recovery-oriented space for Veterans with lived mental health experience to provide messages of hope, community, and resilience to their peers at risk for suicide. This treatment manual gives providers an overview of CC, it's current empirical support to date, a step-by-step guide on how to develop their own CC program with Veteran or non-Veteran populations, and recommendations for data collection and research collaboration.

scholarly journals Addressing Inequities in Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing through Transformative and Decolonising Research and Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. p48
Author(s):  
Pat Dudgeon ◽  
Maddie Boe ◽  
Roz Walker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Health Inequities ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Indigenous Mental Health

Aim: This paper discusses the current mental health and social and emotional wellbeing in Indigenous Australian mental health and wellbeing, the gaps in research, the need for transformative and decolonising research and practice, and the opportunities and recommendations to address existing mental health inequities. Method: This paper reviews key mental health and social and wellbeing policy documents and frameworks, and examines relevant literature documenting current decolonising strategies to improve programs, services and practice. It also draws on the key findings of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) and Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research projects. In addition this work builds on the substantial work of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project (ATSISPEP) which outlines a range of solutions to reduce the causes, prevalence, and impact of Indigenous suicide by identifying, translating, and promoting the adoption of evidenced based best practice in Indigenous specific suicide prevention activities. Discussion and Conclusion: This paper details the challenges as well as the promise and potential of engaging in transformative and decolonising research and practice to address the existing health service inequities. Acknowledging and addressing these health inequities is an urgent and critical task given the current COVID-19 pandemic and potential for further increasing the adverse mental health and wellbeing gap for Indigenous Australians.

scholarly journals Usage and Acceptability of the iBobbly App: Pilot Trial for Suicide Prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Tighe ◽  
Fiona Shand ◽  
Kathy McKay ◽  
Taylor-Jai Mcalister ◽  
Andrew Mackinnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Torres Strait

BACKGROUND The proliferation of mental health apps purporting to target and improve psychological wellbeing is ever-growing and also concerning: Few apps have been rigorously evaluated, and, indeed, the safety of the vast majority of them has not been determined. Over 10,000 self-help apps exist but most are not used much after being downloaded. Gathering and analyzing usage data and the acceptability of apps are critical to inform consumers, researchers, and app developers. OBJECTIVE This paper presents pilot usage and acceptability data from the iBobbly suicide prevention app, an app distributed through a randomized controlled trial. METHODS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants from the Kimberley region of Western Australia completed a survey measuring their technology use in general (n=13), and data on their experiences with and views of the iBobbly app were also collected in semistructured interviews (n=13) and thematically analyzed. Finally, engagement with the app, such as the number of sessions completed and time spent on various acceptance-based therapeutic activities, was analyzed (n=18). Both groups were participants in the iBobbly app pilot randomized controlled trial (n=61) completed in 2015. RESULTS Regression analysis indicated that app use improved psychological outcomes, although only minimally, and effects were not significant. However, results of the thematic analysis indicated that the iBobbly app was deemed effective, acceptable, and culturally appropriate by those interviewed. CONCLUSIONS There is a scarcity of randomized controlled trials and eHealth interventions in Indigenous communities, while extremely high rates of psychological distress and suicide persist. In this environment, studies that can add evidence from mixed-methods approaches are important. While the regression analysis in this study did not indicate a significant effect of app use on psychological wellbeing, this was predictable considering the small sample size (n=18) and typically brief app use. The results on engagement with the iBobbly app were however positive. This study showed that Indigenous youth are early and frequent users of technology in general, and they regarded the iBobbly app to be culturally safe and of therapeutic value. Qualitative analyses demonstrated that iBobbly app use was associated with self-reported improvements in psychological wellbeing, mental health literacy, and reductions in shame. Importantly, participants reported that they would recommend other similar apps if available to their peers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document