Student Tutorial - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Considerations

When working with a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, there may be some specific cultural requirements to consider, ensuring you and they get the most out of the intervention.  Beyondblue have a wonderful introductory interview recorded with a Social Worker, Josephine Battaglini, who works with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the Northern Territory and discusses her recommendations for working with depression and anxiety.

Australian Indigenous Mental Health is a devoted website to this topic, and has a range of resources available to better understand and work with mental health conditions in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

There are guidelines, key issues identified, and most importantly, some case studies with attached learning objectives available.

Alternatively, you could watch the case study and consider how you might interact with this client (there are some suggestions attached to the case study).

If you are faced with a more urgent situation, beyondblue has a list of tip sheets and guidelines specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, addressing a range of mental health conditions like depression, panic, drinking problems, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, non-suicidal self-harm, psychosis, traumatic events, problem substance use and problem drinking use. 

The Queensland Government has compiled a set of Protocols for the Delivery of Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services in Indigenous Communities. General information about communities, health professional roles and overall service delivery models are described.  Tip sheets are available for specific illnesses as well as more detailed approaches to manage each condition.