There is also evidence that programmes introduced in an agreement with these principles are more likely to be successful than those not. Yet, few attempts have been made to distil these common elements into an integrated set of guidelines for policy and practice setting. The culturally-oriented frameworks, programs, and services appear to have some common elements, principles and methods. Recognition of individual and community cultural diversity and Recognition of the centrality of kinship The impact of history in trauma and loss One of the most comprehensive frameworks is the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017–2023 (henceforth SEWB Framework), which has a foundation of development over many years (e.g., Ways Forward report, 2004 Framework). Table 1 outlines the key aspects incorporated into many of these frameworks. These visual frameworks are useful for understanding how these interconnected aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, knowing and doing can be incorporated within promising, and culturally informed, models of practice and reflect the heterogenous nature of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia. Over the past few decades, multiple frameworks have emerged in relation to supporting the SEWB of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. It may also incorporate ‘a profound sense of continuity through Aboriginal law and dreaming’ (:56). Therefore, the structure of the sense of self for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is complex extending to family and clan group, within a complex set of relational bonds and reciprocal obligations. These elements are embedded in roles and relationships within families, communities and spiritual connections to country, and ancestors. A key aspect of this cultural understanding is a framing of mental health within a broader conceptualisation of social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB).įor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people SEWB includes specific and culturally defined relationships with family and community. One message is that effective mental health support must be embedded within a context of cultural understanding and knowledge.
Embedding robust participatory action research and evaluation approaches into the design of such services and programs will help to build the necessary evidence-base to achieve improved SEWB health outcomes among Aboriginal people, particularly young people with severe and complex mental health needs.Ĭurrent literature provides a comprehensive and multi-faceted account about ways to address mental health concerns among Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander populations, with clear messages regarding preferred treatment options. We argue the selective application of nationally agreed principles in SEWB programs and services, alongside a paucity of scholarship relating to promising practices in young people-oriented SEWB programs and services, are two areas that need the urgent attention of commissioners and service providers tasked with funding, planning, and implementing SEWB programs and services for Aboriginal people. Additionally, ‘capacity building’, ‘individual skill development’, and ‘development of maladaptive coping mechanisms’ were identified as common factors in SEWB program planning and delivery for Aboriginal people. However, only one study incorporated all nine principles, using them as conceptual framework. We found there was a strong alignment, with selected principles being effectively incorporated into most SEWB program and service delivery contexts. This enabled us to explore the alignment between current scholarship about SEWB programs and services with respect to the principles of the framework. We then used the principles articulated in the above-mentioned framework as the basis to complete a framework analysis. Next, we identified promising practices through a collaborative review process. Twenty-seven publications were included in the review. MethodsĪ comprehensive review of electronic databases and organisational websites was conducted to retrieve studies of relevance. This review aims to identify key practices adopted by programs and services that align with the principles of the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017–2023. Although there are some common elements, principles, and methods, few attempts have been made to integrate them into a set of guidelines for policy and practice settings. Multiple culturally-oriented programs, services, and frameworks have emerged in recent decades to support the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people in Australia.
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