Mental health and well‐being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia during Covid‐19

Bibliographic Data

ID11228320
AuthorsPat Dudgeon (0000-0003-2799-5709, Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Poche Centre for Indigenous Health University of Western Australia, Crawley WA Australia, corresponding author), Joanna Alexi (0000-0003-4088-5977, Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Poche Centre for Indigenous Health University of Western Australia, Crawley WA Australia), Kate Derry (0000-0002-8647-8165, Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Poche Centre for Indigenous Health University of Western Australia, Crawley WA Australia), Tom Brideson (Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia Parkes ACT Australia), Tom Calma (0000-0002-3015-4620, University of Canberra Bruce ACT Australia), Leilani Darwin (Black Dog Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre Randwick NSW Australia), Paul Gray (0000-0002-3090-2596, Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association Sydney NSW Australia), Tanja Hirvonen (0000-0002-9129-4598, Healing Foundation Barton ACT Australia), Rob McPhee (0000-0002-5254-1074, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Broome WA Australia), Helen Milroy (0000-0001-6932-3375, Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Poche Centre for Indigenous Health University of Western Australia, Crawley WA Australia), Jill Milroy (Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Poche Centre for Indigenous Health University of Western Australia, Crawley WA Australia), Donna Murray (0000-0001-7212-8108, Indigenous Allied Health Australia Deakin ACT Australia), Stewart Sutherland (0000-0002-7019-3712, College of Health & Medicine Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia)
Year2021
Volume56
Issue4
Pages485-502
Publication date2021-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Journal of Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0157-6321 • E-ISSN: 1839-4655
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajs4.185
PMID34898755
OpenAlexW3201319588
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited41

In May 2020, an independent working party was convened to determine the mental health and well‐being needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, in response to COVID‐19. Thirty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and allies worked together in a two‐month virtual collaboration process. Here, we provide the working party's five key recommendations and highlight the evidence supporting these proposals. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self‐determination and governance must be prioritised to manage the COVID‐19 recovery in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. To mitigate long‐term social and economic impacts of COVID‐19 to Australian society, the historical underinvestment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must be reconciled. Equitable, needs‐based funding is required to support strengths‐based, place‐based initiatives that address the determinants of health. This includes workforce and infrastructure development and effective evaluation. There is a clear, informed pathway to health and healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples being enacted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and community organisations; it remains to be seen how these recommendations will be implemented

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Economic growth · Indigenous · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Public relations · Workforce · Global Health Workforce Issues · Health disparities and outcomes · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Law · Medicine

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