Qualitative Research Report: Mental Health and Aboriginal Communities

This report presents a qualitative research study on mental health issues within Aboriginal communities, focusing on awareness and available resources. The study employs a phenomenological approach, utilizing interviews and questionnaires to gather data from a sample of Aboriginal individuals. The research explores the participants' understanding of mental health, the challenges they face, and their perceived needs for support. The report provides background information on the issue, details the study design, including the selection of participants and data collection methods, and includes a reflection on the researcher's personal connection to the topic. The findings highlight the impact of socioeconomic factors, lack of health facilities, and cultural considerations on the mental well-being of Aboriginal people, emphasizing the need for improved healthcare services and increased awareness within these communities. The paper concludes with a summary of the findings and recommendations for future research and policy changes to address the mental health disparities faced by Aboriginal populations.

Running head: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AMONG ABORIGINALS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Executive summary
This following research proposal is structured to discuss about mental health issues among
Aboriginals and their knowledge about it. The paper gives a small introduction about the mental
health issues in an Aboriginal population, qualitative research like Phenomenological strategy
conducted on the community and the motive for selecting this particular approach of research.
The paper also tells about total number of applicants picked and requested for interview
concerning the issues. The paper has reflection idea on the mental health in Australia and
knowledge of Aboriginal about it.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Background of the study..................................................................................................................3
Research Question...........................................................................................................................5
Study design.....................................................................................................................................6
Study population and sampling.......................................................................................................6
Data collection method and analysis...............................................................................................7
Reflection.........................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9
Appendix (Questionnaire).............................................................................................................11

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Introduction
Mental illness denotes to an extensive array of conditions related to mental health such as
illnesses, which affect mood of an individual, behaviour as well as thinking. The common mental
diseases in Australia are anxiety problem and emotional disorders. About 14.4% of Australians
ranging from 16-85 faces anxiety disorders. The mental illness is mainly common among
Aboriginals who are considered to be the populations of Australia by Australian Bureau of
Statistics. They are living in Australia more than 50000 years (Ballantyne 2014). The statistical
data have shown aboriginals includes only 2 percent Australia’s population. Aboriginals mainly
suffer from poor health as there is lack of knowledge (Reading and Greenwood 2018). The poor
health emphasised is supplementary reinforced by the data established on outflow accounts. The
data specified that there is an annual discrepancy in amenities delivered to those residing
Aboriginals communities.
The paper is discussing about the lack in the health knowledge, which are related to
mental disorder among Aboriginals. It focusses on the opinions of the people living in the
community. The methodology plus the applicant’s assortment besides personal reflection
focusing on the topic. The question asked would be portraying on the difficulties faced due to
lack of health knowledge.
Background of the study
Australia's mental health arrangement is inadequate for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal
communities have seen devastation as there is increased rates of suicide plus poorer condition
and outcome of mental health. Poor mental health problem in this community frequently curtails
from historic deficiency, discrimination and a negative sense of linking to self plus community

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(Wright et al. 2020). As aboriginals are neglected in the society only 30 percent of the non-
indigenous populace do social interaction with aboriginals however few individuals have an
knowledge that they are hurtful (McGough, Wynaden and Wright 2018). There is widespread
breach in the middle of aboriginals and non-indigenous women. Aboriginals undergo gender
inequality, social as well as ethnic issue, and psychological modelling have played a played
prominent role in Australian lives (Anderson et al. 2016). The Aboriginals belong to in different
parts of Australia nevertheless away from the urban life. They undergo less benefits in health
facilities and knowledge due poor economic status of the community. All these factors add up to
their mental health problem.
The socio-economic display inconsistency midst indigenous and non-indigenous persons
have created a cleft in getting heath facilities. Aboriginals do not get equal benefits as that of
other Australians. They have knowledge about the metal health issues undergoing in their
community however they do not have any way to treat it sue to economic issue. Hence, as the
mental health is not treated they affect have increased so do persons’ sufferings (Said 2019). The
lesser economy standing has a strong influence on healthiness and hereafter intensifies the peril
of health factors.
Unemployment is another cause of mental stress, poor family household, crime all adds
up to increase in mental health. Aboriginals mainly gets addicted to smoking that increases the
menace of health aspects, shrinks learning plus affects financial stability of the family. The
distinction in the economic standard have generated an alteration in the lifestyle. Aboriginals
with minute income have a lesser rate of learning accordingly no job. They repeatedly suffer
with serious health issues. Mental health is a big problem among aboriginals (Rigney 1999).

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This predisposition states that mental health situation oscillates is provisional on the
treacherous health behaviours, which are corporate in the group with less or no income.
Research have displayed that job forecasts are a lesser amount for Aboriginals, henceforward
faces a greater chance of poor health plus the amplified frequency of widespread loss and grief
(Lin, Green and Bessarab 2016).
The Australian government must develop health facilities in Australia. It is the duty of
the government to provide equivalent health services in all parts of Australia regardless of the
economy. People must know and the health facilities available and it must economically suitable
so that everyone can use it. National Health care sectors have entrenched few health facilities for
Aboriginal though there was poor implementation by the government (Sullivan 2017). The
economy is overpowering the facilities. Previous data have shown that the chief economy
requires rapid development. Government can cultivate new work openings, corporations as well
as more health care clinics in the community where aboriginals resides to reduce the health
problem which (Watts 2011).
None of the national health policy as well as data elucidated that pursuing supplementary
unconventional amenities there is a prerequisite to acquaint an interrelated arrangement process
to improve health results. Government enhancement will help in conveying the variation in the
health projections in Australia’s states plus territories. The nonappearance of edifications also
affects the progress of health care services (Gwynne and Lincoln 2017). This paucity of
exploratory and suggestive acquaintance of such a manifestation advises it is globally
acknowledged opinion rather than meticulous subject on discussion. Enhancement in health care
amenities would diminish the health imperfections between Aboriginals. The gaps are that the

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research would have seen before, would be unobtainability of appropriate foundations of data
assortment policy and designing.
Research Question
Determine the awareness of Aboriginals about mental disorder and to examine the certain
necessities required yet not available.
Study design
To perform this research, the qualitative approach such as Phenomenological method is
used. This technique was preferred because it focuses on the importance of healthcare among
Aboriginals from each persons’ point of view (Flick 2008). It will enlighten the necessary steps
required for the applicants to apprehend the daily world. Phenomenological method will assist in
seizing the norms of the appreciative strategy rather than calculating the total number of
individuals using plus not using the benefits among Aboriginals.
Study population and sampling
The exploration populace for this survey will be 7 Aboriginals, who are suffering from
mental disorder. Phenomenological strategy focusses on the problems that is assimilated from
interviews, questionnaires, and from observation with different viewpoints or data obtained from
other research papers (Holloway and Galvin 2016). Face to face interview, in depth interview,
telephonic interview was conducted for this research. The interviews will be achieved by going
their houses plus noting their statement. Copy for the interview will be done so as to ensure that
declaration plus perceptions are identified for study population are precise.
It is commanding to endorse that during the development of investigation that
acquiescence is approved from the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

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This paper provides a framework to accountable research outputs, along with consistency in
examination for by providing an amplification of data that is projected of researchers by the
Aboriginal community.
It is proposed that investigation to be carried out in a sample size of 5 to 25 people facing
or faced the scenario. The sample size of this investigation will be seven. The only defined
targets necessary for applicants is that they must be aboriginals.
Data collection method and analysis
A total of 8 questions (Appendix) will be set for this investigation. The questionnaire is
classified into three areas such as –knowledge about issues, how to interpret and ways to provide
necessary treatment. The actual reason behind scheming the inquiries into groups is to make the
scrutiny of substitution to data investigation easier. The open minded questions are set for the
formulation of the questionnaire (Watt 2007). These question sets gather evidence that will lead
in the direction of operational and documented portrayal of understandings in addition to
resulting in indulgencing the involvement of participants.
During research the substantial will be analysed for classifying remarkable endorsements,
appraisals that provide a considerate of what the applicants in this form of investigation
experienced (Foley 2003). There is enormous number of widespread quotes and data assumed
during the interview process. The collected will then be accumulated into as a testimony by
providing a clear description of what the applicant experienced and that of the investigators.
Reflection
The reason behind this investigation is that I have some personal knowledge about it. I
am an aboriginal girl. Even though we are settled in Sydney however my grandfather chose to

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stay in his local town. He had been going through mental disorder as he had seen the difficulty of
life, however he exactly does not know why he is having sudden mental trauma. He does not
want to go out of the town for treatment and the local town also do not have any good mental
health clinic.
Conclusion
This phenomenological study primarily highlighting on Aboriginals and the
approachability of health issues. The World Health Organisation accredited that the health
information, is a key to undertake the health-related problems. Unequivocally, I concerted on the
circumstance that aboriginals have less information about health issues such as mental disorder
as there is absence of health facilities. Nevertheless, the facilities differ from one community to
other depending on the budget yet every people requires basic health amenities to accomplish the
desires of the individual community.
This paper portrays the opinions from community people who have experiencing the
problem. The methodology, sampling process as well as data analysis was conversed in this
paper. Reflection was provided to develop inspiration behind investigating this form of review.

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References
Anderson, I., Robson, B., Connolly, M., Al-Yaman, F., Bjertness, E., King, A., Tynan, M.,
Madden, R., Bang, A., Coimbra Jr, C.E. and Pesantes, M.A., 2016. Indigenous and tribal
peoples' health (The Lancet–Lowitja Institute Global Collaboration): a population study. The
Lancet, 388(10040), pp.131-157.
Ballantyne, T., 2014. Mobility, empire, colonisation. History Australia, 11(2), pp.7-37.
Flick, U. 2008. Managing quality in qualitative research. Sage.
Foley, D., 2003. Indigenous epistemology and Indigenous standpoint theory. Social alternatives,
22(1), p.44.
Gwynne, K. and Lincoln, M., 2017. Developing the rural health workforce to improve Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes: a systematic review. Australian Health
Review, 41(2), pp.234-238.
Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. 2016. Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. John Wiley &
Sons.
Lin, I., Green, C. and Bessarab, D., 2016. ‘Yarn with me’: applying clinical yarning to improve
clinician–patient communication in Aboriginal health care. Australian Journal of Primary
Health, 22(5), pp.377-382.
McGough, S., Wynaden, D. and Wright, M., 2018. Experience of providing cultural safety in
mental health to Aboriginal patients: A grounded theory study. International journal of mental
health nursing, 27(1), pp.204-213.
Reading, C. and Greenwood, M., 2018. Structural determinants of Aboriginal peoples’ health.
Determinants of Indigenous Peoples' Health: Beyond the Social, 1.

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Rigney, L.I., 1999. Internationalization of an Indigenous anticolonial cultural critique of research
methodologies: A guide to Indigenist research methodology and its principles. Wicazo sa review,
14(2), pp.109-121.
Said, S., 2019. Knowing through being known: reflections on Indigenous epistemology and
participatory consciousness. Interventions, 21(8), pp.1124-1138.
Sullivan, C., 2017. Aboriginal inmate experiences of Parramatta girls home. Australian
Aboriginal Studies, (2), p.84.
Sutton, J. and Austin, Z., 2015. Qualitative research: Data collection, analysis, and management.
The Canadian journal of hospital pharmacy, 68(3), p.226.
Watt, D., 2007. On becoming a qualitative researcher: the value of reflexivity. Qualitative
Report, 12(1), pp.82-101.
Watts, J.H., 2011. Ethical and practical challenges of participant observation in sensitive health
research. International journal of social research methodology, 14(4), pp.301-312.
Wright, M., Crisp, N., Newnham, E., Flavell, H. and Lin, A., 2020. Addressing mental health in
Aboriginal young people in Australia. Lancet psychiatry.

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Appendix (Questionnaire)
1. What age group do you belong?
a) Under 18 b) 19-30 c) 30-50 d) 50 – 70 e) 70-100
2. What are the challenges faced by your community?
Service Access
3. What do you feel about the health clinics available in your community?
4.What facilities do you think is required in your community to improve the mental health
problems?
Data and utilisation
5.Do you have idea about ACAT?
6.What is your views about telehealth?
7. Are the clinics treating health issues affordable?
8. Do you want to share anything else?