Annotated Bibliography on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health

This annotated bibliography provides an overview of the latest research on mental health issues among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. It covers topics such as the cultural determinants of health, historical impacts, and effective strategies for improving mental health and well-being. The articles highlight the prevalence of mental health issues among these communities and the barriers they face in accessing appropriate care. They also provide insights into the cultural characteristics and needs of these groups and the importance of providing culturally safe healthcare. The bibliography is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and addressing the mental health challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Assessment 3: Annotated
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Article 1
Title: Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, 2020
APA reference list entry: HealthInfoNet, A. I., Drew, N., Parnell, A., Potter, C., & Poynton, M. (2022).
Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, 2021.
Abstract: The Aboriginal and Torres and strait islander in Australia are the main subjects of
discrimination in the country. This can lead to many causes that can be responsible for disturbing the
mental health of the people belonging to this group.
Annotated bibliography (counted towards word count) – 250 words
1
The article aims at identifying the mental health status of the people of aboriginal and Torres
strait islanders through collection and study of relevant statistics on the prevalence of mental
health issue in such groups. It is stated in the article that the Aboriginals experienced a drastic
hike in 2014 in the number of cases of suicide incidence by the youth and prevalence of anxiety
and depression. Around 2018 almost one - fifth of the Torres islanders were reported to be
suffering from a mental condition. During this time, around 31% of the adults of the Aboriginals
and about 23 % of the adults belonging to Strait Islander groups were suffering from high levels
of stress. In around 2020, 52 % of the Aboriginals were suffering from depression and around 59
% were having major anxiety related issues. The reasons behind the current poor status of
mental health of people belonging to such group include lack of economic opportunities,
discrimination and racism, loss of identity and culture and inappropriate treatment pertaining to
their culture. All these reasons are forcing the aboriginals to resolve to bad choices of substance
abuse which is resulting in damage not only to their mental health but to their overall health.
These people also have to face difficulties in having access to healthcare which is another reason
for their plight in terms of health. The aboriginals are not only prone to acquiring depression and

Article 2
Title: Historical impacts on the determinants of health on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Community
APA reference list entry: Molloy, L., Guha, M. D., Scott, M. P., Beckett, P., Merrick, T. T., & Patton, D.
(2021). Mental health nursing practice and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: an integrative
review. Contemporary Nurse, 57(1-2), 140-156.
Abstract: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, indigenous people from Australia are facing
several historical impacts like colonisation which have subjected them towards various health hazard.
Among which the mental health diseases are most common. Their need of health services regarding
their mental conditions are higher in comparison to other people but there are several barriers which
need strict implementation of strategies and approaches.
Annotated bibliography (counted towards word count)
Article 3
Title: Cultural characteristics and needs of the group
APA reference list entry: Verbunt, E., Luke, J., Paradies, Y., Bamblett, M., Salamone, C., Jones, A., &
Kelaher, M. (2021). Cultural determinants of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people–a
narrative overview of reviews. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1), 1-9.
Abstract: Identify the cultural characteristics and their need as well as highlighted their impact on the
Aboriginal health and Well-being outcomes and also precise the relationship along with the interaction
or interconnection of different cultural determinants of health
Annotated bibliography (counted towards word count)
2
From years, a concern has been raised regarding mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are native people from Australia,
colonization effected the community and subjected them to rapes, poisoning, shootings as well
as to several communicable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis etc. along with malnutrition’s,
child mortality, mental health problems. Invasion is still effecting the Aboriginals, and their
mental health is the leading cause of mortality after cardiovascular disorders. The rate of
hospitalization of native people were approx. 1.5-2.1 times higher than the hospitalization of
nonnative people due to mental health conditions. Still, there is a lack of corrective actions that
needs to be taken in regards to the mental health services of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples. National Strategic framework and National Mental Health Plan has been
implemented in order to acquire some positive changes in their mental conditions. The barriers
in receiving services of mental health for Aboriginals were observed to be difficulties in gaining
the entry into the services, problems in staffing, health professionals are not able to cooperate
with cultural people in terms of their safety. The mental health of Aboriginals can be cured by
using nursing approaches and strategies like understanding their culture, believes and providing
In Australia, the government authorities moved their aspect towards cultural determinants which
focus generally towards culture. Thus, it is characterizing by a key component of the National
strategic framework for Aboriginal People's Mental Health and social as well as emotional well-
being. The cultural indicator is focus of Australian bureau of statistical National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Social survey. Them characterize are related to language, country along
with identity collected. The Australian government have been recently drawn their attention to
the cultural characteristic of health. There is a growing evidence which highlight the importance
of cultural determinants or characteristics of health for the indigenous peoples. The overview
could provide a more comprehensive analysis of the cultural characteristics of health such as

Article 4
Title: The delivery of culturally safe healthcare
APA reference list entry: Chalmers, K. J., Bond, K. S., Jorm, A. F., Kelly, C. M., Kitchener, B. A., &
Williams-Tchen, A. J. (2014). Providing culturally appropriate mental health first aid to an Aboriginal
or Torres Strait Islander adolescent: development of expert consensus guidelines. International Journal
of Mental Health Systems, 8(1), 1-10
Abstract: The article is explained that the number of people which are suffering from mental illness in
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community abs compare to the non-Aboriginal community.
Annotated bibliography (counted towards word count)
Article 5
Title: Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and well being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people
APA reference list entry: Dudgeon, P., Walker, R., Scrine, C., Shepherd, C., Calma, T., & Ring, I.
(2014). Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people
Abstract: This literature draws perspectives of the people belonging to indigenous groups along with
their
theoretical understanding in order to find out the unmet needs of the indigenous people in respect with
their mental health and social and emotional well-being. This literature provides evidence based
discussion on factors that affect the effective implementation of initiatives foe well being of
Aboriginals.
Annotated bibliography (counted towards word count)
3
In Australia, the diverse group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are contributing
2.5%of the total Australian population. There is mental health has been identified that there are
some barriers for these community peoples at the stage of seeking help from mental health
services. These consider a history of racism and discrimination and lack of trust in main stream
services. There is need to provide culturally appropriate education and training programs for
improving their mental health. In 2001, there is The Mental Health First Aid program was
developed in result to poor mental health of members of public for those people who had lack
knowledge of mental illness and treatment of the mental illness. The metal health first aid course
for the community is different from the general mental health first aid programs in recognizing
the historical, cultural and political forces that may affect the community mental health. These
program has been evaluated as a culturally appropriate and acceptable to Aboriginal people.
These acquisition has been evaluated as methodologically rigorous. These programs are
providing the complexities that can happen in the use of mental health services by the aboriginal
people due to barrier for assessing services. These are providing the culturally sensitive
treatment approaches and fear of find the mental health services. This is assist to ensure that the
This literature mentions the lack of sufficient initiatives for helping the Aboriginals in
maintaining their mental health status. This is the reason for the plight oF people belonging to
these groups in terms of mental health issues. This paper also mentions the changes that have
been brought about in the policies foe Aboriginals by the government. The Health Plan (DoHA
2013) is a policy which was released with the aim of promoting and for betterment of mental
health of indigenous people by improving the access of health care by such groups. Another
initiative is the Healthy Futures plan released by National Aboriginal Community Controlled