Indigenous psychology in Australia
Experiences of colonial oppression have had a profound and enduring effect on the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and communities throughout Australia and other indigenous nations globally. On almost every headline, indicator statistics show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people fare worse than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Australian psychology has been implicated […]
Epigenetic Echoes: Bridging Nature, Nurture, and Healing Across Generations
Trauma can impact individuals within a generation (intragenerational) and future generations (transgenerational) through a complex interplay of biological and environmental factors. This review explores the epigenetic mechanisms that have been correlated with the effects of trauma across generations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. These mechanisms can regulate the expression of stress-related genes […]
The Lancet Commission on Self-harm
This fact sheet provides a summary of the findings of The Lancet Commission on Self-harm (see: https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/self-harm)
Indigenous youth wellbeing in higher education: a systematic literature review of qualitative studies
Completing a higher education degree is a game changer for the success of Indigenous youth. However, there is a paucity of research which explores the enablers of and barriers to Indigenous higher education youth (18–25 years) wellbeing. This systematic literature review aimed to explore the nature and scope of international research that engages with Indigenous youth […]
The healing power of Native American culture is inspiring psychologists to embrace cultural humility.
Heal Our Way
Heal Our Way is a NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Campaign funded by NSW Ministry of Health under the Towards Zero Suicides (TZS), and is led by Cox Inall Ridgeway in partnership with Aboriginal Communities within NSW. The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness of suicide within Aboriginal communities in […]
Engaging Australian Aboriginal youth in mental health services
It is currently estimated that up to 40% of Aboriginal youth (aged 13–17) will experience some form of mental health problem within their lifetime. Of greater concern is the evidence that indicates that Aboriginal youth fail to access mental health services commensurate with this need. This is due, in part, to the characteristically monocultural nature […]
Whole of community suicide prevention forums for Aboriginal Australians
It is well known that Aboriginal Australians are at increased risk of suicide. Contributors to suicide differ for Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations (Westerman, 2003; 2019). This study evaluated whole of community suicide prevention forums conducted across six locations. Attendees were youth (N = 136), service providers (N = 225), and community members (N = 158). The content of […]
Solutions that Work: What the Evidence of our People Tell Us: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Report.
A question of justice: Critically researching suicide with Indigenous studies of affect, biosociality, and land-based relations
This paper considers how Indigenous studies can inform the evolution of critical research on suicide. Aligned with critiques of mainstream suicidology, these methodological approaches provide a roadmap for structural analysis of complex systems and logics in which the phenomenon of suicide emerges. Moving beyond mere naming of social determinants of suicide and consistent with calls […]
(Re)Claiming Health: The Human Rights of Young LGBTIQ+ Indigenous People in Australia
The human rights of both LGBTIQ+ and Indigenous peoples are far from realized. When conjoined, intersecting identities reveal how racism and queer phobia affect well-being, negating the right to health and resulting in devastating impacts on people’s social, cultural, and emotional well-being. This paper documents the lived experiences of a sample of young gender- and […]
Responding to COVID-19 and Beyond: Key Recommendations for the Effective Public and Mental Health Response to Support the Well-Being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia
The Australian response to COVID-19 demonstrates how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, partnership, and self-determination are critical in ensuring public health measures and pandemic response planning is effective for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This chapter outlines the key evidence-based recommendations and actions developed by three national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led groups, […]
Indian residential schools in Canada: Persistent impacts on Aboriginal students’ psychological development and functioning.
Indian residential schools (IRSs) in Canada subjected thousands of students to horrific experiences and contributed to serious problems for Aboriginal peoples and Canadian society. A model is proposed that uses existing psychological theory and empirical research to explore the possible impacts of IRS experiences. The model identifies four aspects of student experiences that were a […]
Mental health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia during COVID-19
In May 2020, an independent working party was convened to determine the mental health and well-being needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, in response to COVID-19. Thirty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and allies worked together in a two-month virtual collaboration process. Here, we provide the working party’s five key […]
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: Suicide data 2020
A Systematic Review: Non‐Suicidal Self‐injury in Australia and New Zealand’s Indigenous Populations
Objective. To undertake a systematic review of non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) prevalence, patterns, functions, and behavioural correlates for the Indigenous populations of Australia (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) and New Zealand (NZ; Maori). Method. We searched the following electronic databases: PubMed, MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PsycInfo, and PsycArticles, CINAHL, and the Informit Health and […]
The context and causes of the suicide of Indigenous people in Australia
When comparing suicide in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) population to that in the non-Indigenous populations of Australia, there are significant differences in the rates of suicide and the age groups at risk of suicide. The etiology of these differences includes a history of colonisation and its aftermath including a burden of intergenerational […]
A 10-year-old girl kills herself, and a nation asks: what can be done?
Last week’s terrible news that a 10-year-old Aboriginal girl had taken her own life shook many Australians. Yet there would be few Aboriginal families who have not already been affected by the suicide or attempted suicide of their young people. This includes our own extended families and kin.
Close the Gap – Progress and priorities report 2016
This report from the Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee provides an overview of the progress made over the life of the Closing the Gap strategy. Results are mixed, with some improvements in infant and child health, while progress on closing the life expectancy gap has been minimal. The report also looks at new insights […]
Kimberley Indigenous mental health: An examination of metabolic syndrome risk factors
Objective: There is an increased risk of physical health comorbidities in people with a mental illness. This paper examines the metabolic syndrome parameters for the general population, indigenous Australians and people with a mental illness, and compares them to a sample of predominantly indigenous adults with mental health problems. Design: A longitudinal (24 month) audit […]
Illawarra Aboriginal community profile: a snapshot of an urban Aboriginal community
This community profile report provides information about the Aboriginal population of the Illawarra Region. It is intended to begin a discussion about how research can contribute to the social health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people. The report highlights disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians that are apparent not only in the health statistics but also […]
Review of illicit drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the use of illicit drugs among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. It provides general information on the context of illicit drug use in Australia and the factors of particular relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including the historical context, […]
Calls for a royal commission into the alarming rate of Indigenous youth suicide
As many as one in ten Indigenous deaths could be caused by suicide, a suicide prevention researcher has warned. Gerry Georgatos says the official statistics are masking the true extent of the crisis, and he’s sounding the alarm on the rate of suicide amongst young Indigenous Australians. ‘Too many are dying too young,’ says Georgatos. […]
Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health
SEARCH, the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health, is Australia’s largest long-term study of the health and wellbeing of urban Aboriginal Children. An estimated 60% of the health gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Australia is attributable to the health of people living in non-remote, urban areas. While 57% of the […]
Aboriginal children, history and health: beyond social determinants
This book investigates the complex reasons for the discrepancy between the health and well-being of children in mainstream Australia and children in remote Indigenous communities. The high rate and causes of ill-health among Aboriginal children are explored through a unique blend of historical, anthropological, biological and medical analyses. Aboriginal children, history and health also includes […]
