Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing: Social emotional wellbeing and strengths‐based psychology

Abstract

Objective

Addressing the continued health disparities between Australia's Indigenous and non‐Indigenous peoples requires a multi‐sector approach in which the discipline of psychology has a central role. These disparities are partially driven by a lack of culturally appropriate methods of health delivery. This study aimed to explore urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ perceptions of health and wellbeing through social emotional wellbeing and strengths‐based frameworks.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted with 19 urban Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Data was collected via individual semi‐structured interviews and focus groups. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify strengths‐based themes within the data.

Results

Several attributes and values emerged from participants’ understandings of enhancing mental health and wellbeing. These included acceptance, respect, forgiveness and integrity, honesty, courage, empathy, mindfulness, and spirituality.

Conclusions

There are similarities between the central tenets of the strengths‐ and values‐based frameworks and a model of social emotional wellbeing. It is important to note that these attributes and values are understood at the individual, community, and cultural level. Each of these attributes and values are intricately linked to being mentally healthy and having strong cultural identity. These similarities may provide an avenue for shared cross‐cultural understandings and knowledges of mental health and wellbeing that will support culturally appropriate service delivery.

Key words:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
• cross‐cultural psychology
• cultural identity
• social emotional wellbeing
• strengths‐based psychology

The content of the submitted article has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere except as a brief abstract in the proceedings of a conference.

Conflict of interest: All authors of the article have contributed significantly, have reviewed the manuscript, and are in agreement with the content and submission of the manuscript. There is no conflict of interest.

The content of the submitted article has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere except as a brief abstract in the proceedings of a conference.

Conflict of interest: All authors of the article have contributed significantly, have reviewed the manuscript, and are in agreement with the content and submission of the manuscript. There is no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the people who generously shared their knowledge in this study.

Notes

The content of the submitted article has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere except as a brief abstract in the proceedings of a conference.

Conflict of interest: All authors of the article have contributed significantly, have reviewed the manuscript, and are in agreement with the content and submission of the manuscript. There is no conflict of interest.