Cultural Determinants of Wellbeing of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Question 1

Cultural Determinants for Wellbeing of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Answer 1

Culture: refers to the way of life of a particular group, society or community that sets it apart from other groups, communities and societies.
● Includes language, knowledge systems, customs, beliefs, values, attitudes, norms about what is right and wrong, food, art, dance and music, and any other features which distinguish it from other groups, societies or communities.

Question 2

Cultural Determinants

Answer 2

Cultural determinants of mental wellbeing are protective factors that help maintain strong connections to culture, strengthen cultural identity, enhance resilience and contribute to the maintenance of good mental wellbeing.
‘Culture is about the life-givi ng values from which indi viduals, families, and communities can draw strength, resilience, and empowerment, thus contributing to health and wellbeing’ it is a way of life that is shared and learned’.

Question 3

Cultural Continuity

Answer 3

Cultural continuity: preservation of all things to do with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ culture over time, and the sense of history, identity and belonging this pro des.
● Involves intergenerational maintenance and transmission of cultural knowledge and practices, including language, self-determination, and connections to Country, family and kinships, community, spirit, spirituality and ancestors.
● The importance of cultural continuity for mental wellbeing has been shown to protect against serious mental health issues.

Question 4

Self-Determination

Answer 4

Self-determination: the right to freely determine or control their political status and freely pursue their cultural, social and economic development.
● It’s a basic human right and crucial to overcoming disadvantage and ensuring future generations sur vive and thrive.
● Aboriginal community control ensures that mental health ser vices are tailored to each community’s particular priorities and goals, and deliver culturally appropriate solutions driven by the local community.
Self-determination specifically means that rather than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people merely being ‘engaged’ or ‘consulted’ as ‘ad visors’ or ‘co-designers’ of mental health ser vices and policies, they are authorised to take ownership and responsibility for designing, delivering and evaluating policy and ser ces.