Prevalence and Risk Factors of Mental Health Issues among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Senior Adults in Australia

This essay discusses the prevalence and risk factors of mental health issues among indigenous and non-indigenous senior adults in Australia. It evaluates the common risk factors that contribute to mental health issues among the elderly and uses evidence-based recommendations for treatment.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
Name of the Student:
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Author Note:

1MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
According to Heffernan et al. (2015), mental health can be defined as the complete
state of psychological, emotional and social wellness. Mental health critically defines the
manner in which an individual perceives things, feels and reacts. As stated by Kisely et al.
(2017) mental wellness also affects the manner in which an individual responds to stressful
situations, relates with others and makes independent choices. Clearly, mental health is an
integral aspect of wellness and is important at every developmental stage of life, starting from
childhood, spanning through adolescence and youth to old age. Research studies have
revealed that mental health is primarily affected by three important factors that include,
biological elements which comprises of genetic influence or brain chemistry, life incidents
that evokes a negative experience and a family history of mental health issues (Nasir et al.,
2018).
According to a report published by the World Health Organization (2019), it has been
mentioned that the ageing population is increasing in number and by the end of the year
2050, the percentage of old age population would double. The figure is expected to nearly
double from 12% as reported in the year 2015 to 22% by 2050 (WHO, 2019). In this regard it
should further be mentioned that mental health issues and neurological problems account for
the primary reasons of illness in the elderly. Therefore, it is increasingly important to focus
on issues related to mental health among senior adults so as to promote holistic wellness of
the elderly. This essay would therefore talk about the prevalence of the mental health in the
indigenous as well as the non-indigenous senior adults based at Australia. It would further
evaluate the common risk factors that contribute to mental health issues among the elderly
and use the evidence base to devise appropriate recommendations for the treatment of the
problems.
According to the report published by the World Health Organization, it has been
stated that mental health account for a cumulative 6.6% of the disabilities within the age

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group of 60 years and above (WHO, 2019). Also, on an average, 15% of senior adults who
are aged 60 years and above suffer from a mental health disorder (WHO, 2019). In context of
Australia, it is important to investigate the concern of mental health with respect to the senior
adults belong to both indigenous as well as non-indigenous origin. Research studies indicate
that the major mental health issues that affect the elderly in Australia include problems such
as loneliness, depression, Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Vascular
dementia. Research Studies have indicated that the percentage of senior adults living with
loneliness is equivalent to 29.7% for those individuals who are aged 85 years and older
(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). Also, the study indicated that older women were more
likely to live alone as compared to older men. Research report also reveal that 1 out of every
10 senior adults, aged 65 and above are diagnosed with dementia (Australian Bureau of
Statistics, 2013). The statistical figures further reveal that approximately 10% of the old age
population are suffering from Dementia with the percentage being highest in aged women
and residents placed in care facilities. Statistical facts and figures also reveal that
approximately 1 million elderly people in Australia are living with depression and 2 million
experience anxiety (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). In addition to this, 75% of elderly
people are reported to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Also, four people in every 1000
Australian adults aged 50 and above are diagnosed with Parkinson’s (Kisely et al., 2017).
Vascular dementia accounts for approximately 15% to 20% of the total number of reported
cases affecting old age patients in Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,
2019). However, it is important to note that research studies have indicated that rise in
prevalence of mental health disorders in the elderly reduces with the advancing age in
general. However, certain sections of the old age population within Australia experience an
increase in number of mental health issues. These sections include indigenous elderly, elderly
based at remote and rural areas with poor access to care facilities, elderly women and elderly

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patients placed at permanent residential facilities. The most common mental health problems
affecting the indigenous aboriginals include PTSD, Depression, anxiety and increased
dependence on substance abuse (Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, 2017). A
study conducted by Heffernan et al. (2015), indicated that the prevalence rate of PTSD in
aboriginal elderly was 13 times higher than that of non-indigenous elderly with 12.1% in men
and 32.3% in women (Heffernan et al., 2015). Also the study confirmed that patients
suffering from PTSD were also suffering from other mental health disorders. Also, studies
have indicated that there is a prevalence of 33% depression among the Aboriginal elderly. In
addition to this, 20% of the indigenous elderly have indulged in substance abuse such as
smoking and consumption of alcohol that has contributed to the deterioration of mental health
among the elderly (Heffernan et al., 2015; Australian Bureau of statistics, 2013).
Therefore, it can be mentioned in this regard that a number of factors such as lack of
proper access to mental healthcare facilities and poor education and awareness has
contributed to the alarming increase in the prevalence of mental health issues among the
ATSI elderly. It can further be stated that in stark contrast to the Non-ATSI elderly, the
prevalence of mental health issues is gradually emerging out to be a serious issue.
Research studies have critically indicated that depression and anxiety within the
elderly might occur on account of varying reasons such as personal loss or pertinent physical
illness (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019). The common risk factors that lead
to anxiety and depression within the non ATSI elderly individuals include complications in
physical health problems such as cardiovascular disorders and Alzheimer’s disease
(Beyondblue.org.au, 2019). In addition to this, side effects of medications and chronic pain
can also lead to anxiety. Also, episodes or personal loses such as the unprecedented death of a
loved one and loss of relationships or income might as well trigger feelings of emotional
insecurity that subsequently leads to depression. Also, social isolation, admission within a

4MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
health care setting, change in living arrangements and daunting memories of loved ones leads
to issues related to mental health problems (Beyondblue.org.au, 2019). On the basis of the
evidence collected from research studies, it can be stated that the risk factors for ATSI elderly
includes factors such as widespread loss and grief. In addition to the devastating impact of
stolen generations and removal of children have also buried negative impact deep into the
psychological wellbeing of the elderly adults and as a result has caused post traumatic
disorders (Hunter, 2014). In addition to this, unresolved trauma, forced separation from
culture and identity has also served as major risk factors that has led to the progression of
mental health issues among the ATSI elderly. Studies have also indicated that racial and
ethnic discrimination, poor social health determinants, physical health problems, violence,
incarceration and economic disadvantage has also served as risk factors that has subsequently
resulted in the poor mental health of the ATSI elderly population (Bei et al., 2013). Increased
substance abuse on account of lack of awareness about the negative impact on physical and
mental health also serves as a major risk-factor that has led to the cause of different metal
health disorders among the ATSI elderly (Sahealth.sa.gov.au, 2019). It should be critically
stated in this regard that the issue pertaining to racial discrimination is of prime importance as
studies reveal that more than half of the elderly individuals belonging to the ATSI community
has reported to experience one episode of psychological distress and trauma in their lifetime
(Gone, 2013).
Intergenerational trauma can be defined as a condition of psychological trauma that
is transferred from one generation of trauma survivors to the subsequent generations (Gone,
2013). The medium in which the trauma is transferred from one generation to another
generation is exclaimed as the process of complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The
problem in relation to intergenerational trauma has existed for more than a decade and has
heavily impacted the ATSI elderly in comparison to the non-ATSI old age adults. A number

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of research studies have critically focused on the impact of stolen children and
intergenerational trauma on the mental health and wellbeing of the elderly ATSI individuals.
Researchers have conducted qualitative research studies and interviewed the trauma survivors
to investigate that whether or not there is an impact of intergenerational trauma on the mental
health and wellness of the elderly ATSI community members (Hunter, 2014). On evaluating
the interview responses and analysing the emerging themes of the interview discussion, it was
clearly found that the impact of intergenerational trauma is deep rooted within the members
of the ATSI community. As a matter of fact, a number of issues such as family violence,
suicide and high rates of incarceration has been directly linked to the negative impact of
intergenerational trauma among the ATSI members. It should be mentioned here that the
trauma survivors are at present the old-age individuals who are aged 60 and above and have
closely experienced the treacherous experience of the brutalities that the community was
subjected to during the era of colonisation. It has been studied that trauma affects the general
perception of individuals and the manner in which they react and feel. These factors have
further been studied to affect the ability of the individuals in coping with stressors and
engaging with things. The most common symptoms that have been attributed as an effect of
intergenerational trauma among the aboriginal elderly include psychological elements such as
fear and anxiety, poor quality of relationship, violence and substance abuse (Minas et al.,
2013). It should be noted that not getting an opportunity to heal from trauma leads to
cultivation of negative experiences and negative behaviours that heavily impact others.
Specifically the impact affects the children to a great extent. This is primarily because within
a social community children are the most vulnerable and negative implication of trauma
might lead to a developmental deformity on account of experiencing a form of trauma at
some point of life. Also, on considering the case of stolen generations, it can be mentioned
that elderly members primarily in charge of directing the members of the community might

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unknowingly transmit the impacts of institutionalisation. This makes the process of nurturing
the future generation extremely complex. The process becomes complex as the elderly are
clearly unaware of the significant factors that lead to a good parenting style as they were
deprived of a nurturing opportunity. Research studies have also shown that individuals that
have witnessed intergenerational trauma invariably suffer from PTSD and also the impact on
mental health is not merely restricted to the set of individuals who have directly witnessed it
but also affects other individuals who have been read or heard about it from elderly
individuals (Minas et al., 2013;Gone, 2013).
On the other hand, intergenerational trauma in case of non-ATSI elderly individuals
has also been studied. Families that have experienced a situation of social oppression or a
natural disaster has witnessed a negative implication of intergenerational trauma that has
affected the mental health of the old age individuals. In addition to this, elderly members who
had been immigrants or had faced a crisis situation such as a situation marked by political
unrest can also be stated to have experienced a negative impact of intergenerational trauma.
Typically the impact of intergenerational trauma among the elderly in non-ATSI old age
individuals has also been associated with mental health symptoms such as fear, depression,
anxiety and difficulty in coping and stress management (Weston, 2019).
Therefore, it can be mentioned that the experience of trauma is transmitted laterally
and can also include societal shaming. Trauma does not have to necessarily include impact of
a natural disaster or a war. It could also include sufferings of a family due to the
unprecedented death of an infant or a large number of deaths in a family on account of a
disease outbreak. The experience of trauma is invariably linked to feelings of grief,
depression and anxiety which is passed on to subsequent generations.

7MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
Evidence based studies reveal that the mental health treatments widely used for the
treatment of older ATSI individuals include engaging people in the care process to receive
culturally safe care delivery (Jimenez et al., 2013). Further, it critically involves extending
primary health care services and traditional healing services across rural and remote areas
with the use of Indigenous friendship centres and the use of Metis communities. In particular
it can be stated that primary health care centres equipped with physicians, Nursing
professionals, Traditional healers and elders, youth workers, mental health and addiction
counsellors, social workers, community nurses and support staff facilitate mental health
treatment to the ATSI elderly individuals. Mental health treatments such as the reinforcement
of a culturally safe psychological therapeutic intervention such as counselling care programs
are available for the treatment of the ATSI elderly (Brink & Lichtenberg, 2014; Lee, 2014).
The most important factor that presents a stark difference between the quality of
mental health treatment among the ATSI and the non-ATSI elderly individuals can be
explained in terms of access to care facilities. 98% of the non-ATSI belong to the non-remote
and rural areas that have ample healthcare institutions equipped with suitable mental
healthcare facilities to treat the issues pertaining to mental health (Parkar, 2015). Contrary to
the same, the major percentage of ATSI elderly population is majorly based at the rural and
remote areas where access to healthcare is laden with major barriers. Also, concerns spanning
around mental health is perceived as an impact of supernatural entity and is tabooed. This
accounts for another important reason why access to mental health facilities is not sought
most of the times. The mental health support services for non-ATSI older people include
provision and access to individual psychiatrists, allied mental health professionals, team of
professionals dedicated to take care of general mental health problems of senior adults and
specialist professionals to treat mental disorders of severe intensity (Brink & Lichtenberg,
2014). Advanced psychotherapeutic techniques such as use of behavioural activation, use of

8MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
memory aids and inclusion of a family member in the care session is generally considered in
order to promote positive patient outcome (Lee, 2014). In addition to this, the use of tele-
psychiatry services is also used invariably for the treatment of depression in the elderly.
Hence, to conclude it can be mentioned that mental health in ATSI elderly is still
perceived as a challenge that needs to be bridged in order to yield positive patient outcome.
On critically considering the dark history of the aboriginal community in close association to
transgenerational trauma and the pathos of stolen children, it can be stated that the mental
health trauma is deeply rooted into the community, with the incident deeply eliciting an
impact on the aboriginal elderly who has closely witnessed the crisis. In addition to this, it
has also been found that the common mental health problems in aboriginal elderly includes
issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance abuse. Also, the treatment support
services available for the ATSI elderly as well as the non-ATSI elderly differs from one
another in terms of using technological advancement and access. This can again be correlated
with the superstitious belief about mental health as perceived by the ATSI senior adults and
poor accessibility to care facilities pertaining to the remoteness of the geographical location.
Therefore, it is important to incorporate culturally appropriate psychotherapeutic services and
spread awareness about mental health in order to render effective patient outcome.

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