PHAA Statement To Public Health

Mental illness disorders and suicide as surveys and statistics would show, affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at a higher rate than the rest of the Australian population (Elder, Evans, Nizette, 2013). Thirty percent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 18 years and over experienced some sort psychological distress at a greater than normal level during the year 2012 to 2013 (ABS, 2015). Compared to other Australians, the Indigenous people aged 18 years and over were three times more prone to experiencing psychological distress than the rest of the Australian population (ABS, 2015). Mental health services treat more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in contrast with the Non-Aboriginal population, around

It is well-known that the health issue of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been constantly discussed and analysed up to the present. Indigenous Australian experience poorer health outcome compare to other population in Australian, and also they experienced significantly higher rates of mental illness within their communities, and the suicide rate approximately more than double higher than for the general population (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,2009). The purpose of this essay is to discuss the factor that associated with higher rate of mental illness and suicide behavior regard to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the concept of cultural, social and emotional well-being that triggers this phenomenon.

The overall health of the population can be due impart to the living conditions in which they experience, rather than traditional risk factors of health we first think of. The umbrella term social determinants of health (SDH) can be defined as: the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.

The social construction of mental illness limit an individual’s life opportunities as they are labelled “psychotic stalkers, comic figures, neurotics who do everything to excess, or sometimes as sympathetic characters” (DeVoe 2003-2004, p. 926) rarely are they viewed as competent members of society as illustrated by Howard Geld experience, “many years ago, I was diagnosed manic depressive psychotic and ever since then I have tried to live up to it.” (Howard Geld cited in DeVoe 2003-2004, p. 925). However events such as NSW Mental Health Month (October) which emphasises the promotion of social and emotional wellbeing by encouraging people to maximise their health and increase their mental health literacy provides a great opportunity for reducing the fear associated with this group by raising awareness of mental illness which over time serves also to eliminate the stigma associated with

The health plan has six key priority areas addressing the main issues concerning health in Aboriginal Victorians (Victorian

“Statistics suggest that, with one in 5 adults, and 27 per cent of young Australians, suffering some form of mental illness, current mental health funding is unable to cater for all mental health needs, forcing prisons to become the new mental health institutions.”

According to Beyond Blue (2012) a recovery-orientated model recognizes and understands the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experiences, values, and views of mental health and wellbeing. Further stating this understanding is essential in delivering culturally appropriate recovery-oriented care. Recovery-oriented centers around the needs of the service user. A recovery-oriented model encourages holistic and individualised care and is suitable for ensuring that the particular needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service users are met (Victorian Government Department of Health, 2011). Following a recovery-oriented model offers service users effective and culturally support towards developing a positive outcome in regards to their social and emotional

Discuss the Social Determinants the articles identify as issues which affect Aboriginal and Torres Srait Islander’s health. (6 marks)

This paragraph will explain about one evidence-based strategy to prevent the mental illness and suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Indigenous people mental health is not healthy as non-indigenous people. The population of indigenous societies are more affected which is unfortunately leading cause of suicide. Basically, the reason of the mental illness and suicide incident is associated with social and cultural factors. The sociol and cultural components, which hugely affect in mental health are education, employment, racism, loss of identification, and lack of health services access and culturally suitable services and support. After many research and studies, Australian Government initiates different strategies and

With the data presented in this paper, it is clearly demonstrating that the Indigenous Australian continue to experience major disadvantage on health and social-emotional well being outcomes than other Non-Indigenous Australian. The cultural factor and the effects of unfairly social determinants of health are clearly contribute in poor physical and psychological health experienced by numerous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is important for both health organisation and individual health professional delivery a culture safety care, help Indigenous people to improve the capacity of the mental health workforce, and working together with them to closing the gap between Indigenous and other Australian population.

2. Andrews, G. & Slade, T. (2001) ‘Interpreting scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)’, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Vol 25(6), 494-7.3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011) The health of Australia’s prisoners 2010, Cat. No. PHE 149, Canberra.4. Beck, A.T. & Steer, R.A. (1987) Beck Hopelessness Scale Manual. The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio.5. Beck, A. T. & Steer, R. A. (1990) Beck Anxiety Inventory Manual, San Antonio: Psychological Corporation.6. Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A. & Brown, G.K. (1996) Beck Depression Inventory II Manual, The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio.7. Berwick, D., Murphy, J., Goldman, P., Ware, J., Barsky, A. and Weinstein, M., Performance of a five-item mental health screening test, Medical Care 1991, 29:169-176.8. Beyond Blue n.d., ‘Checklists to Identify Depression and Anxiety’, viewed 16 January 2012, 9. Commonwealth of Australia (2009) Fourth National Mental Health Plan, An agenda for collaborative government action in mental health 2009–2014, Attorney-General’s Department, Barton, Australian Capital Territory. 10. Commonwealth of Australia (2009) National Mental Health Policy 2008, Attorney-General’s Department, Barton, Australian Capital Territory.11. Coombs, T. (2005) ‘Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network; Kessler -10 Training Manual’, NSW Institute of Psychiatry.

The American Public Health Association, or the APHA, is a professional health organization for public health professionals.The APHA prioritizes building public health infrastructure, ensuring the right to health care, and creating health equity. The mission of the APHA is to improve the health of the public and achieve equity in health status and the vision is to create the healthiest nation in one generation. In order to work towards their mission and vision, the APHA advocates for public health laws and for funding of public health projects. The APHA also champions prevention and partners with communities to provide health education. In addition, the APHA publishes the American Journal of Public Health and The Nation's Health newspaper. They also host their Annual Meeting and Exposition where they discuss the latests public health research. They have many different events including National Public

Mental health problems are considered to “interfere with how a person thinks, feels and behaves” (Australian Government Department of Health, 2007, para. 3). Considered to be more prominent, yet less severe than mental illnesses, mental health problems are experienced for

Health and health inequalities are questions of social justice. To fully understand determinants of health, we need to understand

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and the systems put in place to deal with illness (WHO, 2008). These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels (WHO, 2008). Basically, they are those factors which contribute to the wellness or illness of people, as a result of their living and/or working conditions, other than factors such as race, genes etc. Examples of social determinants of health are Housing, Income, Employment,