Considerations There are unique aspects to consider while providing mental health service and prevention programs in the urban and rural communities. Perhaps the most significant factor is understanding how beliefs about cause and consequence shape the interventions, approaches, and models of care adopted (Davis, 2013). Furthermore, for many Aboriginal communities dealing with approaches to wellness draw on the culture for inspiration and means of expression (Towns & Schwartz, 2012). According to most First Nations traditions, “mental health problems are a reflection of imbalance or disharmony in the circle of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of the self” (Smye & Mussell, 2001, p. 24). Additionally, the concepts of …show more content…
Counsellors must therefore realize that Aboriginal clients expect their counsellor to address their problems in a holistic way. Kirmayer and Valaskakis (2008) believe “even in the case of individual problems, connections with family, community, and the larger environment often hold the keys to understanding the problems and facilitating healing” (p. 339). The key is to focus beyond the individuals to engage and empower communities. Meanwhile, the root causes of mental health problems such as intergenerational trauma, poverty, unemployment and lack of housing need to be addressed alongside the consequent mental health issues (Smye & Mussell, 2001). The therapeutic mediation case consultation (TMCC) model is a response to rural service delivery barriers (Delaney & Brownlee, 2009). This model provides an opportunity to expand service delivery options and facilitates professional community response, while promoting client involvement and choice regarding their therapeutic direction (Delaney & Brownlee, 2009). This model values the clients concerns and strives to empower the client. Also, the TMCC model …show more content…
However, considerable differences can be found based on the population, isolation, limited services, and challenges relating to transportation and weather, as well as the various aspects associated with adapting to the role of being a social worker in a small community. Kirmayer and Valaskakis (2008) suggest that the social origins of prevailing mental health problems require social solutions and when applying conventional models of service and approaches to health promotion rethinking is required if they are to be consonant with Aboriginal realities, values, and aspirations. For both urban and rural practice it is important to remember that ‘one size fits all’ approaches often fail, because they ignore the local dynamics and diversity (Kirmayer & Valaskakis, 2008). Recognizing and respecting these differences allow social workers to enter the context of their practice with both context awareness and context sensitivity (Delaney & Brownlee, 2009). In urban settings and rural settings, health centers need to attend to the issue of cultural diversity and prevention and health promotion strategies also need to be tailored to reflect the cultural uniqueness of the individuals and community in which a health program is being established (Smye & Mussell, 2001). Despite the many challenges faced by northern social workers, these represent an opportunity to be creative and to
Firstly, gender disparity plays a significant role in aboriginal health, especially in the administration of health care. In Aboriginal culture, there are certain health practices that can only be done by either men or women, but not all (Bonvillain, 2001). In most cases, women are treated by their female counterparts whereas male doctors handle male patients. This means that a male doctor cannot undertake a vaginal inspection and a female nurse cannot teach an aboriginal man about self-catheterization. As a result, a breach of this traditional gender division, for instance a male doctor helping a woman in emergencies, is likely to cause shame, distress, depression, and fear of breaking a particular taboo (Freud, 2000).
1) First topic chosen was wellness which is “a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.” (The National Wellness Institute, para 3) What wellness means to me is being with my family, surrounding myself with your loved ones, or even being with the environment. To Indigenous people it is the exact same with their wellness with each other, or the wellness with their environment. Mental wellness in Indigenous is living a journey along the way being fulfilled in good health. This changed my thoughts because sometimes I don’t always see the good or surround myself in happiness which can create bad health for me.
Definition: Mental health has become a pressing issue in Indigenous communities. Often, a combination of trauma, a lack of accessible health resources, substance abuse, violence, and socioeconomic situations lead to high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in Indigenous Peoples. This crisis is especially apparent in Indigenous youth, where there is a growing suicide epidemic but little mental health support and resources are provided. The increase in stigmatized and untreated mental illness has continued as trauma and systemic injustices remain unaddressed. Indigenous groups, governmental parties, and health organizations are involved.
The 1967 referendum resulted in the change of the Constitution on August 10 of that year, initiating the start of great change for the lives of indigenous people in Australia. The referendum sought to change Sections 51 and 127 of the Constitution. Section 51 stated the Federal Government could make laws for anyone in the nation except aborigines, leaving state governments in charge (Creative Spirits – 1967 Referendum, online, 14/8/15). Section 127 specified that when the population of the Commonwealth was counted, indigenous people were not included (Creative Spirits – 1967 Referendum, online, 14/8/15). According to Faith Bandler, an indigenous civil rights activist, it was important to force the Commonwealth to be responsible for the aborigines
Residential schools undoubtedly created detrimental inter-generational consequences. The dark legacy of residential schools has had enduring impact, reaching into each new generation, and has led to countless problems within Aboriginal families including: chemical dependence, a cycle of abuse in families, dysfunctional families, crime and incarceration, depression, grief, suicide, and cultural identity issues (McFarlan, 2000, p. 13). Therefore, the inter-generational consequence...
Advanced knowledge of Aboriginal Health policy and issues at the level and national level including understanding successful measures around Closing the Gap in Aboriginal Health inequality. My desire to work in the aboriginal field begins since I was very young. That is why at 16 years of my age I started to be even more interested in understanding all the issues related to the aborigines of this country. Over time, I looked that all my knowledge be trained at health level basis to help to improve the Aboriginal quality of life standards.
Poor living conditions are a major health determinant throughout the indigenous population. Most Indigenous Australians are known to live in rural parts of Australia which are commonly not close to major cities and services. People living in these areas generally have poorer health than others living in the cities and other parts of Australia. These individuals do not have as much access to health services and good quality housing. In 2006 roughly 14% of indigenous households in Australia were overcrowded unlike 5% of other households (AIHW, 2009a). Overcrowded and poor quality houses are commonly associated with poor physical and mental health between the people living in them. The indigenous are n...
The authors describe Indigenous perspectives on health and well-being based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s historical and cultural backgrounds. In the Indigenous culture, health comprises not just physical and mental health, but emotional well-being, social and environmental factors as well. Moreover, this holistic approach to health is most associated with their cultural and spiritual dimension. For instance, it is important to maintain their physical and cultural connection to traditional lands as well
In order to understand the impact of colonisation on Aboriginal health; it is important to recognize their worldview or set of beliefs on health (Tilburt, 2010). They practice a “holistic” approach unlike the Western Biomedical model where health is centred on biological functioning (Lock, 2007). According to this model the essence of being healthy relies on the mental, spiritual and social well-being rather than the absence of an illness (Hampton & Toombs, 2013). It is closely linked to spiritual and environmental factors; the heart of which is country, tradition and kinship. Land is a source of identity and spirituality for indigenous people (Hampton & Toombs, 2013). Kinship manages connection to land as well as ceremonial obligations and interpersonal relationships (Hampton & Toombs, 2013). For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders a healthy person consists of physical and spiritual elements. It’s evident that colonisation eroded the structures upon which Indige...
Historically, Attawapiskat has largely been left alone regarding mental health services, as health resources are underfunded and difficult to implement due to the isolated location (Attawapiskat: Four Things, 2016). As of July 24, 2017 a major political breakthrough in healthcare occurred, affecting the forty-nine communities governed by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (One Step Closer, 2017). First Nation leaders signed the Charter of Relationship Principles Governing Health System Transformation, which is meant to bring reform to the healthcare system in rural communities in Northern Ontario. The Charter permits First Nation communities within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation to “design and control their own healthcare system”, while maintaining “culturally appropriate mental health
Guerin, B. & Guerin, P. 2012, 'Re-thinking mental health for indigenous Australian communities: communities as context for mental health', Community Development Journal, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 555-70.
The first factor that has an impact on the health of Indigenous people is their access to health services. Health services include health care provided by general medical practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2008), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have lower level of access to health services compared to other Australians. Distance may be one of the reasons that Indigenous Australian have difficulties to get to the facilities they want. Compared to the general population, the percentage of having medical facilities, including hospital, Aboriginal primary health care and other community health center, located in the discrete indigenous communities was only 7%, while in general population, the percentage was 35% (ABS 2006). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face many different kinds of transport challenges as well. In 2008, 43% of Indigenous adults lived in an area in which the local transport was not available (HAMAC 2012, p. 99). That affects people’s access to health facilities as well. People may not get the treatment they need when take location and tra...
Mental illness is an addition to all of the previously listed perceived disadvantages of Native Americans by those of other ethnicities. Many believe that Native Americans are at a higher risk for mental illness than those of European descent. Many also believe that Native Americans have more people suffer from depression than their white counterparts (Stark & Wilkins, American Indian Politics and the American Political System, 2011). There have been studies conducted to test whether or not this is the case, with mixed results. Some studies say that Natives are at a higher risk and others say they are not. This discrepancy makes the answer unclear. If Natives are actually at a higher risk for and have more people suffering from depression than individuals of European descent, the question to ask is, “why?” Several factors play into depression and other mental illness, including biology, social standing, history, family, and any preexisting/comorbid diseases that could contribute to or cause depression.
...al departments actually reaches first nations” (Assembly of First Nations 2007:1), with 11 percent of funding being spent on INAC departmental overhead (Assembly of First Nations 2007). In order to improve the conditions of Aboriginal life, and subsequently improve the parenting abilities of Aboriginals, we must first address and repair the underlying psychological, emotional, and social problems within Native communities. This process of repair should be facilitated through the development of a long-term strategy, designed to increase government spending towards beneficial social and medical programs, with a primary focus on addressing the traumas inflicted by the residential school system. In the words of Lloyd Robertson (2006: 21), “Concomitantly, community development work needs to be done to mitigate the disastrous effects of the residential school experiment.”
Dudgeon, P., Walker, R., & Milroy, H. (2014). Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles (2nd ed.). Perth: Kulunga Research Network.