Culturally Informed Health & Wellbeing Across Australia

Biri Ma Services provides culturally grounded health and wellbeing education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families, communities and service providers. Led by Dr Mercy Singleton, services combine cultural perspectives, holistic health promotion and education to increase awareness, strengthen understanding and encourage positive wellbeing choices.

Culturally Informed Health & Wellbeing Across Australia

Supporting Health Through Culture, Knowledge and Education

Biri Ma Services approaches health and wellbeing through a cultural and holistic perspective. Guided by “Look, Listen and Learn”, the focus is on increasing awareness and understanding while recognising the connections between emotional, mental, spiritual, physical and cultural wellbeing. Education supports individuals and communities while helping service providers develop greater awareness of culturally informed approaches.

Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid

Biri Ma Services provides 14-hour Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid education focused on building greater awareness of mental health concerns affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Participants learn about the signs and symptoms of six common mental health problems and develop practical knowledge about how to recognise concerns, respond and refer people to available supports. Cultural considerations are incorporated throughout the learning, helping participants better understand how mental health support can be approached in culturally relevant and respectful ways.

Suicide Awareness, Prevention, Intervention & Aftercare

Biri Ma Services provides suicide awareness, prevention, intervention and aftercare education with an emphasis on trust, connection and culturally informed support. The approach recognises the importance of creating a trusted environment around individuals and families, where people can talk about their feelings with someone willing to listen. It also encourages connections with other trusted people, professionals and medical services when additional support is required, helping communities build greater awareness of pathways to appropriate care.

Suicide Prevention Week

In Australia, September 10th highlights effective ways to prevent suicide, like “Collaboration where everyone works together to prevent suicide” (Suicide Prevention Australia, 2018).

On the 13th of September, we ask the question – R U OK?

As I reflect on this question, I can’t help but see that for many of our Indigenous people, Things are not OK and that this is magnified with Indigenous people worldwide. Our people, are faced with so much issues that drag us down in everyday life, in particular:

The ongoing impact of intergenerational trauma, that is, the pain and trauma of Our Ancestors, passed down through the subconscious or (spiritual transference), a sense of loss, grief, despair, anxiety, anger, hopelessness, fear and many other negatives
Personal trauma [witness to violence, crime, substance dependencies, sexual abuse
Our young people growing up in a rapid changing society
The struggle to identify with a connect to traditional culture and embrace modern culture passive racism in society through social institutions and or policies
Loud racism
Exposure to a cycle of alcoholism, quick and easy fix drugs of all types
Exposure to horizontal and vertical violence
Some references: Leenaars, A., Brown, C., Lucien, T., Anowak, J., Hill-Keddie, T. (1999) Genocide and Suicide among Indigenous People: The North meets the South. The Canadian Journal of Native Studies 14(2) 337-363. Retrieved from http://www3.brandonu.ca/cjns/19.2/cjnsv19no2_pg337-363.pdf Herringa, R. J. (2017). Trauma, PTSD, and the developing brain. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19(1), 69-77. doi: 10.1007/s11920-017-0825-3 Hunter, E., (1988) Aboriginal suicides in custody: A view from the Kimberley. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Haines, J. (2016) What are the contemporary effects of colonisation on Indigenous knowledge? Researchgate.net

What is Mental Health?

HOW INDIGENOUS PEOPLE SEE MENTAL HEALTH

“Mental health is not just the physical well-being of the individual, but the social, emotional, spiritual and cultural well-being of the whole community. This is a whole of life view and it includes the concept of life-death-life.

Health services should strive to achieve the state where every individual can achieve their full potential as human beings and thus bring about the total well-being of their communities.”

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (NACCHO) 1997

WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

Physical - eat good food, be active, play sport, look after yourself when sick
Emotional - feeling safe, good body touching, speak good words to our children
Spirituality - family connectedness, identity
Social - access to land, participate in community life, justice, fairness and equity
Cultural - learn the stories and songs, participate in ceremonial dances, policy supporting cultural practices

Yarning, Culture & Holistic Wellbeing

Biri Ma Services recognises health as more than the absence of illness or disease. Holistic health considers the emotional, mental, spiritual, physical and cultural wellbeing of the whole person, including their relationships with family, community, land and Sea Country. Culturally meaningful approaches can include yarning circles guided by a leader, art, dance, singing and storyline, providing opportunities for people to connect, share and strengthen individual and collective wellbeing.

Crisis, Grief & Support Pathways

Biri Ma Services includes crisis grief counselling within its supplied suicide awareness, prevention, intervention and aftercare approach. Support is centred on listening, trust and connection while recognising when a person may need assistance from appropriate professionals or medical services. Biri Ma Services’ general website enquiry service is not designed for immediate crisis response, so people experiencing an urgent mental health crisis should seek appropriate external emergency or crisis assistance rather than waiting for a website response.

External Crisis Support

The Biri Ma Services website enquiry form should not be used for emergencies or immediate mental health crises. If someone is in immediate danger or requires urgent emergency assistance in Australia. Individuals should seek an appropriate crisis, healthcare or emergency service for urgent mental health support and avoid providing sensitive personal health information through the website’s general enquiry form.

Start a Health & Wellbeing Enquiry

Looking for culturally informed mental health education, suicide awareness or holistic wellbeing services for your community or organisation? Contact Biri Ma Services to discuss your requirements and learn more about available health, wellbeing and education services.