Critical Analysis of Mental Health in Australian Aboriginal Communities - Term Paper Example

Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Introduction The Australian Aboriginal community is an indigenous population with a rich and compelling history as well as a diverse culture. Some historical events such as colonization had great impacts on the Aboriginals creating significant hardships for them. These problems are still experienced by the Aboriginals today influencing their mental health. Some of the issues faced by the Aboriginal’s include loss of identity and culture, chronic ailments, abject poverty, premature deaths, poor education, and very low self esteem and sense of self worth (Brown, 2006). This paper therefore seeks to offer a critical analysis of the influences, environment, culture, support systems and adaptive ability on community health problems for the Australian Aboriginal community using the mental health illness continuum. This paper further examines the nature of community responses to mental health concerns exploring a range of methods and their application in mental health promotion. It also provides a critical analysis of the extent to which selected issues related to mental health status impact across the lifespan of the Australian Aboriginal community. The paper addresses the holistic nature of health and well being as it relates to the Aboriginal community. Attitude influences The Australian Aboriginals still experience negative social attitudes that are commonly held about them especially from the non-indigenous Australians. These attitudes are based on the Aboriginals past and this affects them to date. Many Aboriginals are socio-economically disadvantaged and are faced high levels of poor nutrition, substance abuse, and inactivity. These conditions are a prerequisite to the increased incidences and severity of physical and mental illnesses in Aboriginal community. Racist attitudes have also been subjected to the Aboriginal communities especially those under police custody. This is attributed to the fact that their poor living conditions lead to increased mortality rate, suicide rate as well as reduced life expectancy. The negative attitudes towards this community has made its people especially those living in urban centers live in terrible conditions and often working as laborers or doing other odd jobs since their land was dispossessed from them. The negative attitudes towards the Aboriginals stereotyped them making them experience discrimination and in some extreme cases violence from non indigenous Australians. Attitudes towards a people can lead to prejudice and generalized assumptions subjecting them to suffering such as poor living conditions as evidenced by the living standards of the Australian Aboriginal community. However, attitudes are attributes that one can change and therefore by endeavoring to understand the Aboriginals it is possible to embrace, respect, and appreciate them making them live a fuller life especially towards the recovery of their mental health and other diseases such heart diseases as well as substance abuse. Environmental influences Environmental factors play a major role in determining the health of a given population. Historical dispossession of the Aboriginal people’s traditional territories and their current settlement structures has been greatly detrimental to their health. These issues range from poor quality of homes to housing shortages leading to lack of adequate housing leading to overcrowding and even in extreme cases homelessness for the Aboriginal people especially those living in towns. These environmental challenges are also characterize by inappropriate ventilation causing excessive mould has been a major cause of health problems such as chronic asthma and other allergies mostly affecting the Aboriginal children as well as adults. In the rural set up, Aboriginal communities living there are faced with acute food insecurity caused by challenges in the acquisition of market and traditional foods. In addition, poor sanitation and waste management are other environmental influences influencing negatively on the health of the Aboriginal community. This is also coupled with unsafe water supplies and lack of community resources necessary to maintain the environment habitable making them lead miserable lives. Environment influences have far reaching effects since they predispose a community to many problems such as diseases and lacks of resources to enable them meet their daily needs. In addition, most challenges faced by the Aboriginals are a result of environmental influences ranging from mental health concerns to heart diseases among other ailments Cultural influences The Aboriginals of Australia have traditionally valued their land and express a personal connection to it as it creates a sense of identity as well as their mental health. The Aboriginals culture influences many areas of their lives including their perceptions about health and health care believing more on spirituality or cultural contravention. To them, symptoms of ill health are attributed to spiritual or personal issues. This may include pain, negative feelings or depression among others that may be indicators of mental illness or other ailments. Their culture is also a great obstacle when it comes to sharing certain issues that entails seeking health care support from health workers. This has seen most Aboriginals seeking medical attention only on severe and extreme cases. Cultural and gender differences highly contribute to chronic ailments among the Aboriginals especially mental health concerns (Day & Francisco, 2013). They also exhibit strong spiritual beliefs that relate to land, an extremely difficult colonial history, artistic nature and story telling. Connection between land and humans is however an important perspective of their culture as it relates to what the commonly refer to as “dreamtime”. This refers to how the world started according to the Aboriginals. Therefore, an understanding of the community’s cultural practices is important to ensure the indigenous values and concepts on mental health are put into consideration. This knowledge would ensure culturally safe programs are designed that would gain acceptance by the community without difficulties. Cultural influences have stereotyped this community failing to recognize and respect their culture resulting in ineffective programs that do not provide a culturally safe environment to achieve the desired change (Hunter, 2007). In addition, the community has faced racism, discrimination, and social exclusion aggravating Aboriginals mental health issues. Most mental health issues were also treated using traditional practices since they were perceived to responses that are both intrinsic and extrinsic to a person. The elderly served as resources for information on health related knowledge and acted as role models. Support systems The overwhelming concern of the Aboriginals mental health has lead to the development of support systems towards the achievement of the Aboriginal view of mental health that emphasizes a wholesome and relational perspective. This view suggests that a person’s mental health is inseparable from the spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental health and that individual strength originates from family and community strength (Hunter & Garvey, 2008). It is also notable that there are many Aboriginals committing suited especially the youths and the support systems are community based in order to promote the wellbeing of individuals as well as community strengths. The support systems are also multifaceted to ensure successful interventions are developed to realize the mental wellbeing of the Aboriginal community. Most support systems for the Aboriginals have promoted high levels of confidence, self esteem, reaffirmation of identity and culture as well as improved intervention in suicide cases. The supports systems offer relevant educational, economic and career training aimed at enhancing personal, family and community potential and strengthen capacity. Others are designed to address to address problems related to alcohol and substance abuse. Overall, numerous efforts have been integrated that impact not only on the mental health but also as on social and emotional wellbeing of the indigenous communities. There are empowerment and leadership programs established to foster a sense of empowerment, increased control over individual lives and collective esteem of the Aboriginal people. Such support systems have also shown great impact on increasing self worth, improving communication skills, and problem solving and conflict resolution potential. Family wellbeing support programs established in the Northern Territory where Aboriginals inhabit have particularly addressed many issues enhancing cultural and spiritual identity tremendously. Family violence cases and suicide rates have also drastically reduced enhancing the lifestyle practices of the Australian Aboriginals. These support systems efforts have also included mother, infant and other family members education training delivered in a complex environmental setup to address all the factors that contribute to poor health, social and emotional well being of this community. Adaptive ability The adaptability ability of the Aboriginals on the overall support systems towards promotion of holistic well being was directly related to the ability of the practitioners to recognize and integrate Aboriginals experience and knowledge and design of the programs as well as an appreciation of their culture (Drew, 2006). These offered a culturally safe environment promoting indigenous commitment and collaboration with practitioners thus achieving community control while at same time building trust through relationships. The Aboriginals were therefore adaptive due to use of culturally appropriate and respectful programs to their culture. There is therefore a greater need to provide more support programs that are culturally appropriate in order enhance the mental, social, and emotional health of Aboriginals at all levels. This would enrich the quality of the life of this community. It is therefore evident that the Australian Aboriginals were responsive to supports programs in their efforts to improve their mental health situation and their total well being in general. It is also important to note that, for continued and sustainable initiatives on improvement of Aboriginal’s mental health programs should be design with respect to the cultural values of this community to ensure their effectiveness and adaptability. The ability to embrace life changing activities and programs by the Aboriginals is great step towards achieving total well being and improved quality of living (Bell, 2008). Community responses to Aboriginals mental health concerns Aboriginal’s mental health concerns have raised concerns over the years with an increasing number of community responses towards the achievement of health equality for the Aboriginal community. A number of specific responses have sought the joint efforts of the federal, state, and territory leaders to commit to developing sustainable measures of improving not only the mental health problems of the Aboriginals but also holistic well being. This includes the social, economic and emotional aspects of health (Thomson et al., 2006). The achievement of holistic health can only be realized through maintaining community systems that are designed to meet the very basic needs that are aligned to their cultural beliefs and values (Sherwood, 2005). For many years, the attainment of holistic health was hindered by social, political and economic forces which they had very little control. In the community responses, the Aboriginals have gradually gained some control over the forces determining their health. This has improved the level and quality of holistic health in this community enriching their lives and reducing premature deaths through suicide and lowered mortality rates. Programs that address serious issues such as substance abuse have been crucial in ensuring community responses are addressed and implemented. Approaches to Aboriginal mental health promotion The facts established through research about the mental health issues facing the Aboriginals community in Australia has lead to the establishment of appropriate approaches to promote the overall mental health of this community (Hunter & Garvey, 2008). The Aboriginal community was burdened by unresolved trauma leading to the increased mental health issues, approaches and measures have been established to assist this community and prevent passing these burdens to successive generation’s overtime. For instance, those working with the Aboriginals have been prompted to have a deeper understanding of the past regarding this community, their present realities, and the future possibilities. Other approaches include the initiation of community based change strategies to ensure the communities lead meaningful lives. All practitioners working with this community in different capacities have undergone cultural safety training to ensure they appreciate culture is very important to a people and we always see others through our own cultural experiences thus appreciate and respect each others belief system. In addition, there has been development of programs that are highly promising on positive changes for the Aboriginals social, emotional and economic wellbeing. The programs encourage self determination, community governance, community resilience as well as reconnection and community life. Most of the approaches are also tailored towards recovery and healing from stress and trauma. Other programs focus on promotion of health education and result in numerous benefits such as improved relationships, enhanced self esteem, reduction in substance abuse and encouragement of healthy lifestyles (Day & Francisco, 2013). Conclusion The indigenous Australians particularly the Aboriginals have experienced suffering at different levels and degree leading to increased levels of mental health ailments. There are overwhelming disparities in health of the Aboriginals and non-indigenous Australians. The indigenous Australians experience socio-cultural disadvantages such as poor health, inadequate education, unemployment, and negative social attitudes making the lives complicated. However, some Aboriginals have overcome these barriers and are campaigning for recognition and equal opportunities for their communities. In addition, several support programs have been developed in line with the Aboriginals culture to help them improve their quality of life socially, economically, and emotionally as well as their mental well-being. Integrated efforts by different departments in Australia have enabled the establishment of culturally safe programs to curb past trauma experienced by these people as well as alleviate their living standards. This has been achieved through the careful consideration of several influences to ensure the values of this community do not conflict thus allowing acceptance and collaborative initiatives towards the achievement of wholesome well being for all. It is therefore important to note that its only culturally safe programs that can help alleviate and sustainably manage the health mental issues of the Aboriginals in the long-run. References Bell., D. (2008) Daughters of the dreaming. 3rd ed. Melbourne: Spinifex Press. Brown, R. (2006) Australian Indigenous Mental Health. Australian’s and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 10:33-41. Day, A. & Francisco, A. (2013). Socials and emotional wellbeing in Indigenous Australians: Identifying promising interventions. Australia and New Zealand journal of public health 37(4):350-5. Drew, N. (2006) The seagull imperative. Australian Community Psychologist; 18(1): 40-41 Garvey, D.C. (2007) Indigenous identity in contemporary psychology: dilemmas, developments, directions. 1st ed. Melbourne: Cengage Learning Hunter, E., & Garvey, D. (2008) Indigenous mental health promotion: mind over matter?. Health Promotion Journal of Australia; 8(1): 4-11 Hunter, E. (2007) Aboriginal health and history: Power and prejudice in remote Australia: Melbourne. Cambrige. Parker, R., & Ben-Tovim, D. I. (2002). A study of factors affecting suicide in Aboriginal and ‘other’ populations in the Top End of the Northern Territory through an audit of colonial records. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36, 404-410. Sherwood,J. (2005) Mental health issues from an Indigenous perspective. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal; 29(3): 28-29. Thomson, N., Burns, J., Burrows, S., & Kirove, E. (2006). Overview of Australian Indigenous Health 2006. Perth: Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet. Read More