Two-way approaches to Indigenous mental health literacy
Tricia M. Nagel A B C F , Carolyn Thompson A B , Gary Robinson B , John Condon A B and Thomas Trauer D EA Menzies School of Health Research, Box 41096, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia.
B Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia.
C Northern Territory Clinical School, Flinders University and James Cook University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia.
D Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3053, Australia.
E School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: tricia.nagel@menzies.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 15(1) 50-55 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY08052
Published: 19 March 2009
Abstract
This study was designed to provide important new information about relapse prevention in Indigenous 1 people with chronic mental illness. It aimed to explore Indigenous mental health promotion with Aboriginal mental health workers (AMHW) in order to develop strategies for effective mental health intervention. The research was conducted in three remote Indigenous communities in the top end of the Northern Territory with AMHW. Assessment, psycho-education, and care-planning resources were developed with local AMHW through exploration of local Indigenous perspectives of mental health promotion. Qualitative research methods and an ethnographic approach were used to elicit information, and data included key informant interviews, participant observation, music, photography and story telling. The study confirms that Indigenous people in remote communities prefer to use story telling and local language, local artwork and local music to convey health information. It also confirms that family and local practitioners are key cultural informants and that indirect, holistic and ‘two-way’ messages are preferred.
Additional keyword: health promotion.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the AIMHI NT research team, steering committee and Indigenous Reference group – especially Carolyn Thompson, Robert Mills and Neil Spencer, the Tiwi Islands mental health team, and the Top End Division of General Practice. The Department of Health and Community Services, the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health support AIMHI NT.
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1 For the purpose of this paper ‘Indigenous’ refers to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledges their rich diversity of culture.
