Contextualizing Mental Health Nursing Encounters in Australian Remote Aboriginal Communities: Part 2, Client Encounters and Interviews

Abstract

Knowledge of the history and oppression of Australian Aboriginal people and of their culture, beliefs, and customs is essential to the delivery of culturally competent mental health services. Before an encounter with a client occurs, there is a depth of information needed to facilitate the nurse's ability to interact with clients and communities. Last month's column provided detailed information of Aboriginal people's history and customs. A synopsis of that information is given here. The Missions and Reserves, on which Aboriginal Australians lived, were set up by government and church officials and were total institutions that subjected Aboriginal individuals to a life of historical injustices and suffering. While living on Aboriginal stations, many people experienced forced confinement; medical and household inspections; the imposition of strict religious observance and discipline; separation from, and removal of, their children; the breakdown of traditional values; and the banning of their languages and cultural practices (Cawte, 1974). The resulting distrust of government and church officials carries over to mental health personnel.The isolated nature of Aboriginal communities results in differing cultural concepts of time and family/social relationships than those of Western culture. The Western concept of time is at odds with Aboriginal understandings and has led to differences with mental health staff in remote communities. Time is important from two perspectives. First, when beginning work in a community, there is an initial time investment that is needed to get to know the community and its people. Taking

Cultural Differences in Interpreting Behavior: Staring and Spitting

“…Does it differ by culture? Again, Trueman (Trueman, 2013) describes Aboriginal people as tending to stand side-by-side rather than face-to-face when telling a story or relating a narrative. He advises that the same configuration should be undertaken during any psychiatric interview.…”

“…He advises that the same configuration should be undertaken during any psychiatric interview. The nurse should be near, but not too close, so as to not impose on the client's personal space (Trueman, 2013). There are many other examples of differing interpretations of behavior: stance and body language may denote modesty, respect, or being hip (i.e., current, trendy).…”