Settings and Populations: Mental health promotion and illness prevention

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Mental health or social and emotional wellbeing?
Influences on social and emotional wellbeing
Promoting mental health and preventing mental illness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Policy in Australia
Data collection and associated issues
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - a population snapshot
Examples of good practice
Footnotes
Key resources
References
Downloading options
Suggested citation

Mental health or social and emotional wellbeing?

The language used, and concepts associated with what is generally understood by the term 'mental health', has unique significance when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The term 'social and emotional wellbeing' has emerged relatively recently to reflect the holistic nature of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander view of health and has been variously defined as:

  • 'Not just the physical wellbeing of the individual but the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the whole community. This is a whole-of-life view and it also includes the cyclical concept of life-death-life' (NAHSWP, 1989).
  • 'Enjoying a high level of social and emotional wellbeing can be described as living in a community where everyone feels good about the way they live and the way they feel. Key factors in achieving this include connectedness to family and community, control over one's environment and exercising power of choice' (SAAHP, 2005).

The central principle within all concepts of social and emotional wellbeing is the interconnectedness of relationships between spiritual, emotional, ideological, political, social, economic, mental, cultural and physical factors on health outcomes for individuals, communities and populations. 'Many Aboriginal languages do not have a word that directly translates to 'health': instead wellbeing is described as happiness, land, law, strength and social responsibility' (CRCAH, 2007).

The origin and meaning of social and emotional wellbeing reflects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander belief systems which inform all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' lives and are based on complex social relationships in which people are intimately bound to each other, the land and all living creatures. Inherent in meanings of social and emotional wellbeing are positive and strengths based views of health and the capacity for resilience.

The use of social and emotional wellbeing as the preferred term reflects a broad social view of health and emphasises the social and historical nature of human wellbeing in contrast to the perceived individualistic nature and, for some, the stigma associated with the term 'mental health' (Henderson et al., 2007).


Influences on social and emotional wellbeing

The following table represents the unique influences on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in relation to:

  • Indigenous rights;
  • Social determinants; and
  • Factors which increase the risk of, or protect a person from the likelihood of developing a mental health problem or disorder.
Table 1: Spheres of influence on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Spheres of influence Examples
Indigenous Rights invasion and colonisation, racism and discrimination, Stolen Generation, the right to land and self-determination
Social Determinants housing, employment, education, health, access to health care, financial security, sense of belonging and cultural connectedness
Risk and Protective Factors grief and loss, physical ill health, substance misuse, family and community strength, sense of self and social skills
Source: Auseinet, 2007

In Australian and international literature, there is considerable support for the association between the social environment and health outcomes throughout the life course, independent of individual risk factors (Henderson et al., 2007, p.138). A number of factors which have been identified as increasing the sensitivity of health to the social environment include; the social gradient1, stress, early life, social exclusion and social support, addiction, work and unemployment. For each of these factors behavioural issues such as parenting, nutrition, exercise and substance abuse may play a role; as well as structural issues including employment factors and poverty (among many others) (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003).

An appreciation of the various levels of influence, both positive and negative on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, is critical when considering the potential role of governments, non-government organisations, professional groups and the community towards improving and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing. Support for wellbeing may take place at:

  • An individual level by supporting the development of good self-esteem, emotional and cognitive development and individual resilience;
  • A community level, or within social environments, by creating opportunities for culturally relevant community participation, strong social support and a sense of belonging; and
  • A structural level by ensuring policies and practices within all sectors and settings such as health, education, housing, political and justice systems etc. are underpinned by values of equity, anti-discrimination and access.

Promoting mental health and preventing mental illness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The rationale

Overall, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations experience serious and persistent disadvantage across a range of areas resulting in poorer health and nutrition status than the general population, higher rates of poverty and unemployment, lower attendance at school, serious maternal and child health problems, inadequate living conditions, and high levels of incarceration, discrimination and experiences of racism. The impact of historical and social factors such as colonisation, loss of land, removal of children from families, community dislocation and high levels of trauma and grief, has been devastating and pervasive on many levels.

The impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing as a result of wide ranging influences at individual, social and structural levels, is substantial and persistent. While data are limited, it is widely acknowledged that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher rates of mental health problems than the rest of the population, and many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people carry a significant burden of loss and bereavement from an early age, due in part to the high rates of mortality, illness, incarceration, deaths in custody and involuntary hospitalisation among people in their communities. In addition (not withstanding the problems associated with data collection - see below) deaths by suicide are estimated to account for a much higher proportion of all deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than the wider Australian population. In 2005, suicide accounted for 4.3% of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths compared with 1.6% of deaths for other Australians (ABS, 2007).

Difficult and protracted social and psychological circumstances including long-term and accumulative stress, ongoing anxiety, insecurity, low self-esteem, social isolation and feelings of lack of control over life, lead to increased chances of poor mental health and premature death. People who live, or who have previously lived in institutions such as prisons, children's homes or psychiatric hospitals, are particularly vulnerable. Social exclusion often resulting from racism, discrimination, stigma and hostility, results in limited community participation, education or paid employment, and ultimately in high rates of poverty and sometimes homelessness.

Health in adult life is substantially affected by the quality of prenatal and early childhood years. Poor emotional support and slow growth in childhood raises the risk over a lifetime of poor physical, cognitive and emotional capacity. Poor circumstances during pregnancy including maternal stress, inadequate nutrition, and misuse of drugs and alcohol etc., also lead to poor foetal development and ongoing child and adult health consequences (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003).

A 2005 survey in Western Australia looked at the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people aged 4 to 17 years (Zubrick et al., 2005). The survey revealed that:

  • Almost one quarter (24%) of Aboriginal children were rated by their parents as being at high risk of clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties. This compares with 15% of children in the non-Aboriginal population.
  • An estimated 26% of Aboriginal children aged 4 to 11 years, and an estimated 21% of Aboriginal children aged 12 to 17 years, were at high risk of clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties compared with 17% and 13% respectively, of children in the non-Aboriginal population.
  • The factor most strongly associated with high risk of clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties in children was the number of major life stress events (e.g., illness, family break-up, arrests or financial difficulties) experienced by the family in the 12 months prior to the survey.
  • Just over 1 in 5 children (22%) were living in families where 7 or more major life stress events had occurred over the preceding 12 months.
  • Associations exist between the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal carers and their children and the past policies and practices of forced separation of Aboriginal people from their natural families.
  • The proportion of females with low self-esteem increased with age from 20% at age 12 years to 40% at age 17 years. The proportion of males with low self-esteem remained much the same (21%) over the same ages.

On the basis of what is known about the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, it is clear that the burden for individuals and communities is extensive and intergenerational. The public health burden of mental health problems and mental disorders has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO, 1997) at four different levels.

  1. The defined burden is that which affects people with mental health problems and mental illness and is measured in terms of indicators such as prevalence of disorders.
  2. The undefined burden relates to the impact of mental health problems and mental illness on people other than individuals directly affected. This burden is borne by families and communities in terms of both human and economic costs.
  3. The hidden burden is associated with stigma and human rights violations.
  4. The future burden is the ongoing legacy of the existing burden, as a consequence of the ageing population and increasing social problems.

Promotion and prevention approaches

Promotion and prevention approaches to mental health ultimately seek to reduce all forms of burden by preventing or reducing the incidence, prevalence and impact of mental health problems and mental illness and associated disability, for individuals at all stages of life, families and communities. In addition early intervention approaches may involve early identification or early treatment for people showing early signs of a mental health problem or for those experiencing a first episode of mental illness2. Providing effective treatments for people with mental illness is essential and much more needs to be done to improve the provision of mental health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. However treatment alone will not reduce the growing rates of mental illness. There is a need to enhance social and emotional wellbeing early in life; to build and maintain resilience for families and communities, as well as the individual; and prevent problems from developing. In relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, promotion and prevention approaches need to work within a holistic understanding of social and emotional wellbeing, and incorporate all aspects of wellbeing - physical, cultural, social, emotional and spiritual. The development of resilience is particularly important given the ongoing impact of serious disadvantage and poorer health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

While conceptual frameworks which describe the relationship between promotion and prevention approaches to mental health are relevant for all members of the population regardless of cultural background, there are some specific considerations relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

These include:

  • The holistic nature of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander view of health;
  • Higher proportion of people with mental health problems and mental illness than the general population - therefore mental health promotion and universal prevention approaches may be more closely linked within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts than in a general context;
  • At risk or selective prevention interventions may also be relevant to larger segments of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population than the general population; and
  • Risk and protective factors may be defined differently in some cases based on a range of cultural considerations.

Table 2 provides brief examples of generic activities/interventions relevant to promotion, prevention and early intervention approaches for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. See also some specific examples of programs and initiatives in Appendices 1-7.

Table 2: Promotion, prevention and early intervention approaches relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Mental health promotion
(maximising mental health for everyone)		 Public policies which support the mental health of individuals, families and community groups National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being 2004-2009
Environments (social, physical, economic, and cultural) which support mental health and wellbeing NAIDOC Week,
Festival of the Light,
Deadly Awards,
Croc Festivals
Empowered communities which take actions to meet the needs of community members Leadership programs, community programs to address issues such as domestic violence, substance misuse, community safety
Skills to understand, enhance and respond to mental health needs Training in skills to deal with anger, grief and loss, problem solving, conflict resolution, mental health literacy
Health services and mental health services which promote the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, as well as treat illness Cultural awareness for mainstream health personnel, social health teams
Prevention of mental illness
(three levels of prevention)		 General or universal -
reduce risk factors and increase protective factors that are likely to be relevant to all people		 Parenting programs provided for all parents, preschool education provided for all preschool age children, exercise programs for all age and fitness levels
At risk or selective -
For those identified as being at higher risk of mental health problems or mental illness		 Aboriginal fathers' programs, initiatives aimed at people suffering grief or loss, programs for people with substance misuse issues, midwifery programs
High risk or indicated -
For those identified as being at imminent risk of mental health problems or mental illness		 Support programs for those recently released from prison, those with chronic pain and chronic illness; support for communities bereaved by suicide; postnatal support for mothers who have experienced birth complications
Early intervention
(overlaps with high risk/indicated prevention as well as with treatment for first episodes of illness)		 High risk -
For those identified at very high risk of developing a mental illness		 Provision of mental health information and support in alcohol and drug treatment settings, support for communities bereaved by suicide
Early identification -
For those showing early signs and symptoms of a mental health problem		 Screening for post-natal depression, mental health assessments in correctional facilities
Early treatment -
For those experiencing a first episode of mental illness		 Hospital at home services, assertive outreach programs
Source: Auseinet, 2007.

Policy in Australia

Over the past decade, a number of key Australian Government policy documents and reports have acknowledged the serious disparities in health equity and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with the general Australian population.

Policy areas relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing extend beyond health and mental health to include law and justice, human rights, Native Title, and families and communities, among others. The recent apology  (13 February, 2008) by the Australian Government to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stolen Generations and their families is a landmark event in Australian political, cultural and social history, and has great significance for the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In relation specifically to the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being 2004-2009 is a five year plan to guide the work of government and non-government agencies. This Framework centres around five major areas focusing on:

  • Children, young people, families and communities;
  • Strengthening Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services;
  • Improving access and responsiveness of mental health care;
  • Coordination of resources, programs, initiatives and planning; and
  • Improving quality data and research.

The Framework builds on the work of several key reports produced over the past two decades which have informed policy development for promoting social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These have included:

Recently the COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011 identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations as requiring specific attention within a range of policy areas for progressing effective promotion, prevention and early intervention approaches to mental health. The broad policy directions named within COAG's promotion, prevention and early intervention area for action include:

  • Building resilience and coping skills of children, young people and families;
  • Raising community awareness;
  • Improving capacity for early identification and referral to appropriate services;
  • Improving treatment services to better respond to the early onset of mental illness, particularly for children and young people; and
  • Investing in mental health research.

Another key policy document, the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Framework for Action by Governments, identifies social and emotional wellbeing as a 'Key Result Area' for government action and in particular targets mental health, suicide, alcohol and substance misuse, family violence issues including child abuse, and male health. One of the successful outcomes of this Framework to date is the development of the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being 2004-2009 (outlined above).

In addition, the associated National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Australian Government Implementation Plan 2007-2013, builds on the previous Implementation Plan (2003-2008), and identifies specific strategies and responsible agencies for each of the Framework's Key Result Areas. Within Key Result Area Four: Social and emotional wellbeing, objectives centre around:

  • Social justice and across-government approaches;
  • Population health approaches;
  • Service access and appropriateness;
  • Workforce development; and
  • Quality improvement.

Major national departments and agencies identified as having lead or contributing roles in this Key Action Area include the Australian Government Departments: Health and Ageing; Attorney-General; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Education, Science and Training; Communications, Information and Technology and the Arts; Employment and Workplace Relations; as well as the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) (1997), Bringing Them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families, is also very significant in this context. A landmark report, it provides a comprehensive review of testimonies collected from individuals who were removed under policies initiated by government, discusses the effects of these policies and the necessary actions needed to commence a process of healing for the survivors and their families. The findings of this report have been instrumental in raising awareness across governments and the community of the links between past government policies, human rights abuses and current pervasive social and health concerns for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. More recently the Little Children are Sacred report (Northern Territory Government 2007) highlights the extent of sexual abuse of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The report makes 97 recommendations to advise government about supporting communities to effectively prevent and tackle child sexual abuse.

Data collection and associated issues

A number of practical and statistical challenges are involved in the collection of data in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, not only relevant to social and emotional wellbeing, but for a range of population characteristics. There are currently varying degrees of completeness and reliability of Indigenous data sets and unique cultural considerations pose a challenge to mainstream statistical tools and collection practices. Considerable diversity exists across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations relevant to cultural practices and beliefs, concepts of health and wellbeing, family structure, 'household', and geographical location. While many tools exist for measuring and assessing various aspects of social and emotional wellbeing, and quality of life etc.3 there is currently a lack of accepted tools for measuring social and emotional wellbeing and guiding policy development and practice, which specifically take into account the unique complexities associated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, language and culture.

Despite ongoing challenges, significant developments have taken place in the past 10 years to address some gaps in information and data collection (Borrie, 1994, p.6).

Since 1971 when it became possible to self identify as an Aboriginal person in the national Census count, significant efforts have been invested in building on the collection and quality of Aboriginal population data. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2004-05 included for the first time a component on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal adults. Questions were asked about respondents' experiences in the previous four weeks regarding how often they had felt calm and peaceful, had been a happy person, had felt full of life, had a lot of energy, and conversely had been nervous, without hope, and very sad. Furthermore the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2002 gathered information from respondents about a range of potential sources of personal stress such as death of a family member, serious illness or disability, not able to get a job, overcrowding at home, alcohol or drug related problems, and discrimination/racism.

Comprehensive reports produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other government agencies which contribute to better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are listed below. In addition a more coordinated approach to planning, gathering and sharing information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is being supported through a range of information initiatives. More information about these activities can be obtained from the ABS (2006) report: Recent Developments in the Collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Welfare Statistics, Australia, 2005.

A number of specific data collection, analysis and measurement issues (identified by several Australian Government agencies responsible for health data collection) in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing include:

  • Lack of data definitions, standards and data collection instruments that encapsulate the holistic nature of social and emotional wellbeing in a culturally appropriate way while allowing for statistical measurement needs to be met;
  • Inaccuracies in available data as a result of misdiagnosis of people with symptoms of social and emotional distress. Certain behaviours, which might be appropriate in terms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, may be diagnosed as mental illness in non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander terms. The use of psychological tests based on concepts alien to Indigenous culture is another potential source of inaccurate diagnosis. Misdiagnosis may also occur because of language problems, particularly in the elderly;
  • Under-reporting of mental and behavioural disorders and associated conditions because of the under-identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in administrative records such as hospital and death records; and
  • National surveys have not had sample sizes sufficiently large and/or geographically representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations to produce results about mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people…However, even if the survey[s] had been able to produce results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the questions used may not have been appropriate.
    (identified from several sources as referenced in Henderson et al., 2007, p.145-146).

A number of comprehensive statistical reports relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and social and emotional wellbeing include:

In addition, issues associated with data collection, research and interpretation were acknowledged in 2004 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the United Nations Permanent Forum. A recommendation of the meeting was that 'Indigenous peoples should fully participate as equal partners in all stages of data collection, including planning, implementing, analysing and dissemination, access and return with appropriate resourcing and capacity building to do so…[and must also] respond to the priorities and aims of Indigenous communities themselves' (Stephens et al., 2006, p.2024-2025). It is widely acknowledged that some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have expressed a level of 'fatigue' with being the focus of research and consultation particularly in cases which have lacked an Aboriginal presence in the design and control of the collection practices (Walter, 2005). Leaders in the field of Aboriginal health and wellbeing emphasise the 'critical importance of involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities right from the start in all research activity, and the need to clearly link research outcomes to government policy-making and implementation to achieve measurable improved health outcomes' (Henderson et al., 2007, p.147)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – a population snapshot

(The following information is sourced from: The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 2005, ABS & AIHW (2005), ABS Cat. No. 4704.0).

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia was estimated at 458,500 people at 30 June 2001, or 2.4% of the total Australian population. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is projected to have grown to between approximately 492,000 and 525,000 by mid-2005. In 2001, around 90% of Indigenous people were identified as being of Aboriginal origin, 6% were identified as being of Torres Strait Islander origin and 4% were identified as being of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is relatively young, with a median age of 21 years compared with 36 years for the non-Aboriginal population. In 2001, 39% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were under 15 years of age compared with 20% of non-Aboriginal people. People aged 65 years or over comprised 3% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and 13% of the non-Aboriginal population. These figures reflect higher rates of fertility and deaths occurring at younger ages among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

The latest available estimates of life expectancies for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population are for the period 1996-2001. At the national level, experimental estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy were 59 years for males and 65 years for females. This is about 17 years below the 77 years and 82 years life expectancy for all Australian males and females respectively, for the 1998-2000 period.

States and territories with the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in 2001 were:

  • New South Wales (134,900 people or 29% of the total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population);
  • Queensland (125,900 people or 27% of the total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population);
  • Western Australia (14% of the total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population); and
  • Northern Territory (12%). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise 29% of the entire Northern Territory population.

In 2001, 30% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in major cities, about 43% in regional areas and about 27% in remote areas. By comparison, approximately two-thirds (67%) of non-Aboriginal people lived in major cities and only 2% lived in remote areas. As a result of these differences in distribution, the proportion of the population who were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander varied from less than 1% in major cities to 58% in remote areas. In the Northern Territory, the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in remote areas (81%). In contrast, more than 90% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory lived in major cities or regional areas.

The following table provides summary comparative information about key health indicators for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the general Australian population.

Table 3: Key health indicators - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Aboriginal Australians
Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people General population (Difference)
Life Expectancy (yrs) - Males 59 (77) (-18.0)
Life Expectancy (yrs) - Females 65 (82) (-17.0)
Median age 21 (36) (-15.0)
Total fertility rate 2.15 (1.76) (+0.39)
Infant mortality (per 1000) 14.3 (4.7) (+9.6)
Proportion of low birth weight 13% (6%) (+7.0%)
Source : ABS & AIHW, 2005

Examples of good practice

The following projects and initiatives have been identified as examples of good practice of promotion and prevention approaches to mental health being implemented within a variety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities.

Footnotes

1 According to Wilkinson and Marmot (2003), 'Poor social and economic circumstances affect health throughout life. People further down the social ladder usually run at least twice the risk of serious illness and premature death as those near the top. Nor are the effects confined to the poor: the social gradient in health runs right across society, so that even among middle-class office workers, lower ranking staff suffer much more disease and earlier death than higher ranking staff' (p. 10).

2 For definitions of promotion, prevention and early intervention approaches, refer to the relevant page on the Auseinet website at: www.auseinet.com/ppei/defs.php

3 See for example the 'Directory of Instruments' on the Australian Centre on Quality of Life website at: http://acqol.deakin.edu.au/instruments

Key resources: national policy and report documents

  • National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being 2004-2009.
    Social Health Reference Group, Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, 2004.
    Download
  • Ways Forward - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Policy: National Consultancy Report.
    Swan, P. & Raphael, B.
    Australian Government Publishing Service, ACT, 1995.
    Download
  • Evaluation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Emotional and Social Well Being (Mental Health) Action Plan.
    Urbis Keys Young
    Ausinfo, ACT, 2001.
    Download
  • National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Framework for Action by Governments.
    National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council, Canberra, 2003.
    Download
  • National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health 2003-2013: Australian Government Implementation Plan 2007-2013.
    Australian Government, 2007.
    Download
  • National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health 2003-2013: Australian Government Implementation Plan 2003-2008.
    Australian Government, 2007.
    Download
  • Bringing Them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
    Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 1997.
    Download
  • Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011
    Australian Government, 2006.
    Download
  • Little Children are Sacred: Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse
    Northern Territory Government, 2007.
    Download

Key resources: national statistical reports

  • The Health and Welfare of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 2005
    ABS & AIHW, ABS Cat. No. 4704.0; AIHW Cat. No. IHW 14; Canberra, 2005.
    Download
  • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2004-05
    ABS, ABS Cat. No. 4715.0, Canberra, 2006.
    Download
  • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2002
    ABS, ABS Cat. No. 4714.0, Canberra, 2004.
    Download
  • Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians 2001
    ABS, ABS Cat. No. 4713.0, Canberra, 2003.
    Download
  • Experimental Estimates and Projections Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 1991-2009
    ABS, ABS Cat. No. 3238.0, Canberra, 2004.
    Download
  • ABS Directions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics June 2007
    ABS, ABS Cat. No. 4700.0, Canberra, 2007
    Download
  • Recent Developments in the Collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Welfare Statistics, Australia, 2005
    ABS, ABS Cat. No. 4704.0.55.001, Canberra, 2006.
    Download

Key resources: additional readings

  • The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey: The social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people.
    Zubrick, S.R., Silburn, S.R., Lawrence, D.M., Mitrou, F.G., Dalby, R.B., Blair, E.M., Griffin, J., Milroy, H., De Maio, J.A., Cox, A., & Li, J.
    Curtin University of Technology and Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth (WA), 2005.
    Download
  • Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People within the Broader Context of the Social Determinants of Health.
    Henderson, G., Robson, C., Cox, L., Dukes, C., Tsey, K., & Haswell, M.
    In: Beyond Bandaids: Exploring the underlying social determinants of Aboriginal health.
    I. Anderson, F. Baum and M. Bentley (Eds.).
    Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, NT, 2007.
    Download
  • Social Determinants of Health: The solid facts (2nd edition).
    Wilkinson, R. & Marmot, M. (Eds.).
    WHO, Geneva, 2003.
    Download
  • Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH)
    Auseinet, Adelaide.
    The keywords listed below (available at:
    www.auseinet.com/journal/keywords.php) provide access to relevant papers:
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health
    Aboriginal mental health
    Indigenous
    Indigenous mental health

Key resources: links

  • Auseinet website Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Gateway pages:
    here
  • Australian Indigenous HealthInfonet: Social and emotional wellbeing pages:
    here

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2007). Suicides, Australia, 2005. ABS Cat. No. 3309.0, ABS, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2005). The Health and Welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 2005, ABS & AIHW, ABS Cat. No. 4704.0, AIHW Cat. No. IHW 14, Canberra.

Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health (Auseinet) (2007). Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Auseinet, Adelaide. (last viewed, 16 January, 2008: Website

Borrie, W.D. (1994). Progress in Australian demography. Journal of the Australian Population Association, 11 (1), 1-8.

Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) (2007). CRC for Aboriginal Health Annual Report 2006-2007. CRCAH, NT.

Henderson, G., Robson, C., Cox, L., Dukes, C., Tsey, K., & Haswell, M. (2007). Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People within the Broader Context of the Social Determinants of Health. In I. Anderson, F. Baum and M. Bentley (Eds.). Beyond Bandaids: Exploring the Underlying Social Determinants of Aboriginal Health. Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, NT. (last viewed, 6 December, 2007:  Website)

National Aboriginal Health Strategic Working Party (NAHSWP) (1989). A National Aboriginal Health Strategy. NAHSWP, Canberra.

South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership (SAAHP) (2005). Aboriginal Health, Everybody's Business: Knowing the Business: Social and Emotional Wellbeing: A South Australian Strategy for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People 2005 - 2010. SAAHP, SA. (last viewed, 6 December, 2007: Website)

Stephens, C., Porter, J., Nettleton, C., & Willis, R. (2006). Indigenous 4: Disappearing, displaced, and undervalued: A call to action for Indigenous health worldwide. The Lancet, 367, 2019-2028.

Walter, M. (2005). Using the 'power of data' within indigenous research practice. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2005, (2), 27-34.

Wilkinson, R. & Marmot, M. (Eds.) (2003). Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts (2nd edition). WHO, Geneva.

World Health Organization (WHO) (1997). The Jakarta Declaration on Leading Health Promotion into the 21st Century. WHO, Geneva.

Zubrick, S.R., Silburn, S.R., Lawrence, D.M., Mitrou, F.G., Dalby, R.B., Blair, E.M., Griffin, J., Milroy, H., De Maio, J.A., Cox, A., & Li, J. (2005). The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey: The social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people. Curtin University of Technology and Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth.

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Suggested citation

Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health (Auseinet) (2008). Mental Health Promotion and Illness Prevention – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people . Auseinet, Adelaide.
http://www.auseinet.com/files/ppei/atsippei.pdf