To produce national clinical norms for WASC-Y, examine the internal consistency of the WASC-Y scales, compare scores from a clinical sample with previously published community sample data, and test the degree to which other scales predict the Suicide Scale. We analysed WASC-Y data from 1226 Aboriginal youth who had presented to mental health services between 2007 and 2022 and compared their scores to the original community norms. Our sample shows a higher level of mental health risk than does the normative sample that varied according to gender. We found high levels of suicidal behaviour in the clinical sample: 41.5% admitted to thoughts of suicide and 25.0% reported one or more suicide attempts. One in 23 reported a high likelihood that they would attempt suicide again. Knowing someone who has suicided was associated with higher Suicide Risk. Linear modelling showed that Suicide Risk is predicted by a combination of all other WASC-Y scales and gender, with females at higher risk than males. There is emerging evidence that Cultural Resilience provides some mitigation of Suicide Risk. Our data provide the first culturally and psychometrically valid national mental health profile of Aboriginal youth accessing mental health services, including separate clinical norms for males and females. Aboriginal youth present with serious levels of suicide and mental health risk that urgently require improved access to clinically and culturally competent services. Our findings provide evidence of construct validity, in that scale scores showed meaningful associations with each other and with other variables in expected ways. What is already known about this topic: The WASC-Y stands alone as a culturally valid, psychometrically sound, and clinically valid screening tool to assess Aboriginal youths? suicide risk, mental health risk, and cultural resilience.WASC-Y norms were derived from a non-clinical sample of 13- to 17-year-old school students in Western Australia.Clinical norms for WASC-Y are needed. The WASC-Y stands alone as a culturally valid, psychometrically sound, and clinically valid screening tool to assess Aboriginal youths? suicide risk, mental health risk, and cultural resilience. WASC-Y norms were derived from a non-clinical sample of 13- to 17-year-old school students in Western Australia. Clinical norms for WASC-Y are needed. What this paper adds: We now have separate clinical norms for male and female Aboriginal youth that show high rates of suicidal ideation and behaviour.Suicidal ideation and behaviour are significantly higher among Aboriginal youth who know someone close to them who has suicided than among those who do not.Linear modelling indicates that scores on the Suicide Scale are best predicted by a combination of all other WASC-Y scales and gender. We now have separate clinical norms for male and female Aboriginal youth that show high rates of suicidal ideation and behaviour. Suicidal ideation and behaviour are significantly higher among Aboriginal youth who know someone close to them who has suicided than among those who do not. Linear modelling indicates that scores on the Suicide Scale are best predicted by a combination of all other WASC-Y scales and gender.
The information contained on this website has been sourced by the Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP) and AIPEP 2. The first AIPEP was funded by the Australian Government Office of Teaching and Learning. AIPEP 2 is part of the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project, funded by the Million Minds Mission Grant. The views expressed in this website do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government Office of Teaching and Learning or the Million Minds Mission Grant.
Several of the images used throughout this website are credited to Chris Lewis