Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing: Social emotional wellbeing and strengths‐based psychology

Abstract

Objective Addressing the continued health disparities between Australia's Indigenous and non‐Indigenous peoples requires a multi‐sector approach in which the discipline of psychology has a central role. These disparities are partially driven by a lack of culturally appropriate methods of health delivery. This study aimed to explore urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ perceptions of health and wellbeing through social emotional wellbeing and strengths‐based frameworks. Methods A qualitative study was conducted with 19 urban Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Data was collected via individual semi‐structured interviews and focus groups. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify strengths‐based themes within the data. Results Several attributes and values emerged from participants’ understandings of enhancing mental health and wellbeing. These included acceptance, respect, forgiveness and integrity, honesty, courage, empathy, mindfulness, and spirituality. Conclusions There are similarities between the central tenets of the strengths‐ and values‐based frameworks and a model of social emotional wellbeing. It is important to note that these attributes and values are understood at the individual, community, and cultural level. Each of these attributes and values are intricately linked to being mentally healthy and having strong cultural identity. These similarities may provide an avenue for shared cross‐cultural understandings and knowledges of mental health and wellbeing that will support culturally appropriate service delivery.

Culturally informed case conceptualisation: Developing a clinical psychology approach to treatment planning for non‐Indigenous psychologists working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients

“…These authors suggest that adopting this model "should help orientate health professionals and practitioners…to work more effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities in the areas of SEWB and mental health" (p. 65). Indeed, the cross-cultural understanding of mental health and SEWB highlighted in this model may well provide useful directions for developing case formulations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients (see also Kilcullen et al, 2016Kilcullen et al, , 2017. Furthermore, engagement of this type enhances what has been referred to as "active reconciliation" across knowledge systems (B. Buckby, personal communication, March 2017).…”

“…The following case formulation approach attempts to integrate understandings of SEWB (Gee et al, 2014) and cross-cultural model of health and wellbeing (Kilcullen et al, 2016(Kilcullen et al, , 2017 through integration with the bioecological (Bronfenbrenner, 1977;Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2007) and integrative (Ingram, 2011) models. The proposed case formulation model considers individual, community, social, historical, and political influences upon human development and experiences across time.…”

A scoping review about social and emotional wellbeing programs and services targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Australia: understanding the principles guiding promising practice

“…Acceptance 2. Mindfulness [ 6 ] ‘Interrelated approach: SEWB, ACT, and strengths’ SEWB: 3. Spirituality 4.…”

Intergenerational and early life influences on the well-being of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: overview and selected findings fromFootprints in Time, the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children

“…Indigenous perspectives on health and well-being typically involve not only physical health, but include Indigenous-specific factors such as connection to Country and the environment; connection to family and community; sense of Indigenous identity and culture; self-determination and autonomy; and spiritual well-being. 6,7,10,11 The general health literature increasingly postulates that understanding the influence of culture on health and well-being is fundamental for all children. 12 Understanding the influence of culture is arguably a particularly vital endeavour for Indigenous peoples, with both Australian and international literature highlighting the importance of cultural, family, and community factors for the health and well-being of Indigenous children and mothers pre-and post-birth.…”

“…Indigenous perspectives on health and well-being typically involve not only physical health, but include Indigenous-specific factors such as connection to Country and the environment; connection to family and community; sense of Indigenous identity and culture; self-determination and autonomy; and spiritual well-being 6 7 , 10 , 11 …”