Health and Cultural Diversity with First Australians: A Discussion

This essay delves into the complex topic of health and cultural diversity among First Australians, focusing specifically on their social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB). It highlights SEWB as a holistic concept, shaped by Australian culture, society, family dynamics, and mental health considerations, emphasizing that Indigenous Australians view health beyond just physical wellbeing. The essay connects SEWB to the historical circumstances faced by Aboriginal people, including land loss, cultural disruption, and resulting economic and social disadvantages, which contribute to psychological distress and impact mental health outcomes. It further examines the relevance of these historical and social circumstances to the modern health of the Indigenous population, citing statistics on mental illness, hospitalizations, and mortality rates. The essay then reviews government initiatives like the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy, and other programs, assessing their effectiveness. Finally, it proposes an evaluation program and psychosocial interventions, including economic, social, emotional support, and suicide prevention programs, as key steps to address the current and future needs of the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Running head: HEALTH AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH FIRST AUSTRALIANS 1
Health and Cultural Diversity with First Australians
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HEALTH AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH FIRST AUSTRALIANS 2
Health and Cultural Diversity with First Australians
Topic: Indigenous people social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB)
Discuss the topic in relation to social and historical circumstances
SEWB is a holistic idea that is built on the concept of the Australian culture, society,
family and mental health. The indigenous Australians do not view health based on the physical
wellbeing alone. They consider other factors such as emotional, cultural and social wellbeing of
the entire society (Garvey, 2007). Culture might affect the way people exhibit signs of mental
illness. In the case of Aboriginals, culture determines, maintains and influences the onset, course
and outcomes of social wellbeing. SEWB also connects to the historical circumstance of the
Australian indigenous. Aboriginal people lost their land, culture as well as identity, which made
them powerless (Brown, Scales, Beever, Rickards, Rowley, & O’Dea, 2012). After losing land,
the indigenous people become economically and socially disadvantaged, which affects the
mental wellbeing. This historical experience is attributed to the psychological distress. Besides,
racisms and family disconnectedness among the indigenous people have resulted in ongoing
impacts on wellbeing (Garvey, 2008). Non-indigenous people fail to experience poor social and
emotional wellbeing because of their historical and social circumstances. It is evident that their
circumstances are different from those of the Australian aboriginals.
The effect and relevance to modern health of the Australian indigenous population
The social and historical circumstances have a significant impact on today’s health of the
indigenous Australians. Health outcomes of the aboriginals are associated with the social and
historical experience. Besides, the mental health outcomes are impacted by these circumstances.
One survey conducted between 2012 and 2013 found that 30% of the Aboriginal adults had very

HEALTH AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH FIRST AUSTRALIANS 3
high levels of psychological distress. The occurrence of mental illness and consequent death is
higher among the aboriginals than in the non-indigenous. The mortality rate of the aboriginals
due to mental illnesses is about 1.2 times higher than that of the non-aboriginals. In the same
year, approximately 8% of the indigenous people were hospitalized due to mental health
associated conditions (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2014). This analysis
insinuates that Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have higher chances of
being hospitalized than non-aboriginals. They also have a high risk of death due to mental related
illnesses.
Approaches that have been adopted to promote the issue and whether it has worked
The Australian government has initiated several programs to promote the social and
emotional wellbeing of the indigenous people. The first initiative is the National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy. This program aims to minimize the incidences
of suicide among the indigenous people. Several action areas have been identified under this
strategy. The action areas are building capacity in indigenous, resilience, preventing suicide and
disseminating information. The second strategy is National Suicide Prevention Program. Another
strategy is Community Prevention for High Risk Groups Initiative. This program aims to
promote social and wellbeing among the Austrian indigenous at the community level. Only high-
risk groups in the indigenous population are recruited into the program. Another initiative which
was developed between 2013 and 2014 is Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program. This
initiative has a purpose of enhancing counselling and reuniting indigenous families. The last
program is Targeted Community Care Program. This program involves funding for the delivery
of specialist remote services (Department of Health, 2013). These programs have been successful
in improving the social and emotional wellbeing of the Australian indigenous population.

HEALTH AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH FIRST AUSTRALIANS 4
How the modern and future needs of the Australian Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander
can be addressed
The needs of the Australian Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander could be addressed
through two key steps. First, the socials and emotional wellbeing of the Australian indigenous
should be evaluated. This step should entail the creation of an evaluation program. A structured
framework which includes the use of questionnaires and online surveys can be used to evaluate
the emotional and social wellbeing of the indigenous population. After evaluation, the needs of
the indigenous people should be addressed based on the results. Thus, the second step should
comprise of psychosocial intervention. The current and future needs of the aboriginal people are
diverse. The primary needs are economic, social and emotional support. Economic support
should be offered to the economically disadvantaged people. They should then be counselled on
how to prevent adverse mental health outcomes. Finally, suicide prevention program will be
offered. Evidence suggests that suicide prevention initiatives are needed in Australia (Nasir, et
al., 2017). This program will improve the social and emotional status of indigenous people.
References

HEALTH AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH FIRST AUSTRALIANS 5
Brown, A., Scales, U., Beever, W., Rickards, B., Rowley, K., & O’Dea, K. (2012). Exploring the
expression of depression and distress in aboriginal men in central Australia: a qualitative
study. BMC psychiatry , 12 (1), 97.
Department of Health. (2013). Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing. Retrieved 8
19, 2017, from health.gov.au:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/natsihp-
companion-toc~invest-enablers~mental-social-wellbeing
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. (2014). Health Performance Framework 2014
Report. Retrieved 8 19, 2017, from pmc.gov.au:
https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/indigenous/Health-Performance-
Framework-2014/tier-1-health-status-and-outcomes/118-social-and-emotional-
wellbeing.html
Garvey, D. (2008). A review of the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australian
peoples. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet , 1-22.
Garvey, D. (2007). Indigenous identity in contemporary psychology: dilemmas, developments,
directions. Melbourne: Cengage Learning.
Nasir, B., Kisely, S., Hides, L., Ranmuthugala, G., Brennan-Olsen, S., Nicholson, G. C., et al.
(2017). An Australian Indigenous community-led suicide intervention skills training
program: community consultation findings. BMC Psychiatry , 17 (1), 219.