Critically analyze the impact of cultural diversity Assignment Sample

Critically analyze the impact of cultural diversity in Indigenous communities accessing mental health and AOD services.

Introduction

Despite the fact that mental illness is linked to major impairment, many individuals seek professional medical help for their mental health problems (Gone,2021), despite the fact that mental illness is linked to significant impairment. Indigenous people in Australia are even less likely to get treatment than non-Indigenous people (Sharmil,2021), in part because certain modern institutions lack the competence to consider Indigenous conceptions of health and wellbeing. In this case, we’re talking about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, whose rich linguistic and cultural variety we’re celebrating today. Indigenous peoples believe in “whole of life” health and well-being rather than a distinction between physical, mental, cultural, and spiritual well-being , and research supports this viewpoint .

Discussion

The indigenous Australian population is also significantly more likely than the overall population to suffer from mental illness and use drugs than the general population. To ensure success, it is critical to provide mental health therapies from the start, especially in drug misuse treatment centers.

In recent years, Indigenous clients have been identified with more co-occurring mental health illnesses, putting them at a higher risk of relapse, self-harm, and suicide . AOD’s staff encounter hurdles in terms of engagement, resources, and skills due to the unique demands of this client group . The mental health care business, as well as those in other professions, have recognized a clear need for capacity development within this diverse workforce of specialists (such as non-AOD health workers and non-health professionals such as managers). Because of changing legislative intentions, there has been a major rise in the availability of resources and training opportunities during the previous decade (Sharmil,2020).

For persons who have comorbid alcoholism and mental health problems, the Australian guidelines on the treatment of cooccurring AOD and mental health issues include evidence-based suggestions. It is feasible to identify AOD difficulties, as well as certain mental health diseases, in their clients using classic procedures such as the Psycheck  and indigenous-specific evaluations like as the Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS) (Gonzalez,2022). AOD practitioners who are actively engaged in a battle to empower their clients offer recovery-oriented client-centered treatment that respects lived experience, fosters reciprocal self-help, and is holistic in character, going beyond symptoms and disease . Undoubtedly, ensuring that the treatment procedures are acceptable within the cultural context in which they are offered is one of the most difficult aspects of offering these services. Apart from significant gaps in literacy, language, and worldview, providing appropriate and compassionate diagnosis and treatment to Indigenous people living in remote and rural areas is even more difficult due to the inability to provide appropriate and compassionate diagnosis and treatment to these people. There is also a need for further research and development of culturally relevant psychological treatments that may be used in AOD situations.

Conclusion

In New Zealand, addiction treatment professionals have recognised that both Mori and Western approaches to addiction rehabilitation are equally important and beneficial for Maori individuals suffering from drug abuse problems.  It is suggested that a specialised training programme for this industry combine both Mori and Western cultures. This refers to the knowledge, skill sets, and learning processes that are common to both cultures. To meet this requirement, all employees of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing must receive Indigenous mental health training (AOD).

Customers will be able to take more influence over their own life as a result of the AIMhi idea, since they will have access to a bigger variety of alternatives. People’s rehabilitation is prioritised in the end, which necessitates defining therapeutic goals, aiding the client, and taking into account the client’s family and the larger community.

References

Gone, J. P. (2021). The (post) colonial predicament in community mental health services for American Indians: Explorations in alter-Native psy-ence. American Psychologist, 76(9), 1514.

Gonzalez, M. B., Sittner, K. J., & Walls, M. L. (2022). Cultural efficacy as a novel component of understanding linkages between culture and mental health in Indigenous communities. American Journal of Community Psychology.

Sharmil, H., Kelly, J., Bowden, M., Cairney, I., Else, J., Galletly, C., Hahn, L., Liu, D., Wilson, C.S. and de Crespigny, C., 2020. Participatory Action Research with Daddiri and Ganma: Methodology Co-Design with Aboriginal Community members.

Sharmil, H., Kelly, J., Bowden, M., Galletly, C., Cairney, I., Wilson, C., … & de Crespigny, C. (2021). Participatory Action Research-Dadirri-Ganma, using Yarning: methodology co-design with Aboriginal community members. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1), 1-11.