Depression among the Australian Aboriginals

This paper explores the levels of depression among the indigenous group and the social determinants. It discusses health promotion strategies and socio-ecological model towards depressive disorders among the Australian Aboriginals.

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Depression among the Australian Aboriginals
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Introduction
The Aboriginals of Australia have recorded high levels of depression than the non-
indigenous groups. Depression is a mental complication that makes the patient experience
recurrent sadness episodes (Brown et al., 2016). The psychiatric disorder affects how an
individual behaves, thinks, and feel. Furthermore, depressive disorder leads to numerous
physical and emotional problems. Depressed individuals encounter difficulties in conducting
their daily chores. Some of the symptoms of the condition include hopelessness, insomnia, and
recurrent suicidal thoughts. Recent research has indicated that most women encounter unipolar
depression than their male counterparts. The levels of depression among the aboriginals are
higher than that of the majority tribes due to social inequalities. However, an efficient health
promotional strategy can promote positive mental health among the Aboriginals. This paper will
explore the levels of depression among the indigenous group and the social determinants. It will
also discuss the health promotion strategies and socio-ecological model towards depressive
disorders.
Level of Depression among the Aboriginals
Almost one in three indigenous Australians has depressive disorders. Out of the total
number of Aboriginals with depression, women dominate men. Indigenous individuals are twice
as more depressed than the non-indigenous Australians. According to the 2008 statistics, 31% of
the indigenous individuals had a depressive disorder (Black et al., 2015). The 31% of the
Aboriginals and the Torres Islanders were complaining of anxiety and depression. Violence
victims recorded high rates of depression in comparison to violence-free individuals. 46% of the
victims complained of depressive disorders. Aboriginals with long-term health issues like
disability recorded 43% depression. 44 % of the individuals who had encountered discrimination
had a psychiatric disorder. Additionally, individuals separated from their families documented

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39% depressive disorder. Despite the elevated amounts of depressive disorders, a majority of the
individuals indicated that they were happy. Research also shows that those living in non-remote
areas experience less depression than those inhabiting the rural settings. The depression values
for the aboriginals living in urban areas stand at 71% (McGrath et al., 2015). On the other hand,
the depressive disorder values for those living in remote areas are 78%.
Social Determinants of Depression among the Indigenous Australians
Violence
The aboriginals and Torres Islanders experienced numerous forms of violence hence resulting in
elevated amounts of depression. A majority of the indigenous individuals migrated from their
original land due to violence (Spence, Wells, Graham, & George, 2016). Additionally, the
European settlers grabbed the lands of the Aboriginals violently. Any form of violence affects
the mental health of an individual thereby resulting in psychiatric disorders like depression.
Discrimination and Racism
According to a health survey, 16% of the Aboriginals stated that their received
undesirable treatment due to their race and cultural beliefs (Spence et al., 2016). 40% of the
majority tribes avoid associating with the indigenous individuals when the two kinds of
individuals are using public transport. A section of the indigenous individuals has also stated that
they are victims of verbal abuse from the majority white tribes. 31% of the aboriginals have
witnessed employment discrimination due to their race. However, some Aboriginals avoid
seeking formal employment due to fear of racial discrimination.
Racial discrimination is a significant determinant of depression (Spence et al., 2016). The high
levels of depression among the Aboriginals are due to bias. 56% of the Aboriginals believe that
the vice is one of the reasons hindering their success in life since a depressed individual cannot
conduct daily chores. 21% of non-indigenous individuals have admitted that they avoid places

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where the aboriginals are shopping or eating their meals. Therefore, discrimination makes the
Aboriginals to develop depressive disorders.
Connection to Community, Family, Culture, and Language
Migration from their original homelands into Australia separates the Aboriginals from
their communities. The separation leads to loneliness and the progression of depressive disorder
(Salmon et al., 2018). After moving to Australia, the indigenous individuals lose touch with their
family members. The separation from loved ones is another source of the psychiatric disorder.
The aboriginals are also forced to abandon their culture and embrace the non-indigenous ways of
life. Additionally, the indigenous individuals have to learn English language and quit their
traditional modes of communication. Separation from an individual's culture and language causes
depression.
Education, Employment, and Income
Research has shown that most Aboriginals have low levels of education in comparison to
their non-indigenous counterparts. Additionally, discrimination has made only a few aboriginals
to assess gainful employment and a decent income. Less educated indigenous individuals are
profoundly depressed since they cannot get gainful employment (Markwick, Ansari, Sullivan,
Parsons, & McNeil, 2014). Unemployment prevents indigenous individuals from meeting their
daily needs like adequate food. Therefore, the three social determinants cause high depression
among the indigenous communities.
Gender and Human Rights
Section Aboriginal women have complained about unfair treatment regarding assessing
health services. Apart from health care, some women have also noted inequality in job provision
where employers show preference to men. The disparity explains the high level of discrimination

DEPRESSION AMONG THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS 5
in women as compared to men. The Australian service providers should ensure gender equality
in the provision of services (WHO, 2013).
Health Promotion Interventions to Address Depression
The first intervention involves creating a physical and social environment that prevents
individuals from anxiety and depression. Prevention mechanisms towards racial discrimination
and violence lower the high levels of depression. The Australian government should improve the
physical environment of the Aboriginals by constructing psychiatric centers at the rural areas to
cater for depression patients (Carey, & McDermott, 2017). Secondly, the psychiatrists should
encourage indigenous individuals to seek medical attention for depressive disorders. The
indigenous individuals should also understand the essence of early diagnosis and care. The
caregivers should help individuals to identify the symptoms of anxiety and depression (Jorm, &
Ross, 2018). The health agencies should urge depressed individuals to seek appropriate
assistance. Health facilities should also conduct awareness campaigns on the causes, symptoms,
and treatment options for depression.
Thirdly, the government should enhance the ability of health specialists to conduct proper
diagnosis and treatment for depression patients. The national administration can achieve
caregivers' efficiency by offering them adequate training. Additionally, the health department
should equip the psychiatric centers in various health facilities with appropriate medications.
Fourthly, the Australian administration should support coordination frameworks between the
mental, primary, and public care services. Therefore, health specialists should not neglect mental
care in favor of physical attention. Caregivers should conduct additional research on the cause
and treatment of depression (Rice et al., 2017). Health agencies should monitor the treatment of
depression to ensure that caregivers are providing proper remedies.
Socio-ecological Model

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The model assists to explain the impacts of the prevention strategies discussed above.
The model has four levels which include individual, relationship, community, and societal phase
(CDC, 2015). The individual level explores the personal and biological factors that can cause
depression. The factors include income, education, and many others. Offering quality education
and attractive income to the aboriginals reduces depression. The second level explores the
impacts of relationship on depressive disorders. The people close to an individual determine
whether the person can acquire depression or otherwise. Aboriginals should share their
tribulations with family members and request for a solution. Sharing the status of mental health
with an individual’s partner also helps in getting an appropriate solution. Therefore, individuals
should rely on relationships to solve their mental illnesses.
The third level looks at social settings like neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools
(CDC, 2016). Researchers seek to identify factors at those social settings that can lead to
depression. At the community level, the prevention strategies should improve the physical and
social environment. Therefore, the Australian government should reduce the social isolation of
the aboriginals and improve their economic status to curb depression. The fourth level focuses on
societal factors that can prevent or encourage the development of depression among the
Aboriginals. The factors include cultural and social norms that can promote the development of
mental complications. A majority of the treatment methods in Australia are not in line with the
cultural beliefs of the indigenous communities. Therefore, the government should provide care
that is in line with the culture of the aboriginals to prevent the onset of depression.
Conclusion
Depression is a mental disorder that makes an individual experience prolonged sadness.
Its symptoms include hopelessness, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, among others. The levels of
depression are high among the indigenous Australians than their non-indigenous counterparts.

DEPRESSION AMONG THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS 7
Additionally, women are more depressed than men due to gender inequalities. The leading
causes of depression among Aboriginals are discrimination, violence, and separation from an
individual's family. Other determinants include education and income. Health promotion
intervention assists in reducing the high levels of depression among the aboriginals. The socio-
ecological model assists researchers in evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention steps. The
model has four standards which include individual, relationship, community, and societal phase.

DEPRESSION AMONG THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS 8
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