Population Public Health

Population Public Health
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Population Public Health
Introduction
The Aboriginals of Australia is a population that has experienced numerous challenges ranging from lack of education, unemployment to social and cultural issues that contribute to their poorer health compared to that of their non-indigenous counterparts. The Aboriginals perceptions and experiences of health service providers have continually affected their ability to seek health services since there has been discrimination and great cultural conflicts (Bianca, Anton, Miranda, & Anthony, 2014). Besides, this population has a rich culture related to land and a historical past that was characterized with repossession of their original land. This affected Aboriginals lives greatly creating numerous challenges that can be greatly attributed to their poor mental health. These issues have affected the Aboriginals to date subjecting them to abject poverty, loss of culture and identity, poor education, chronic diseases, and poor standards of living among others. The main health issue is their mental health that evidences several mental disorders such as depression, dementia, and schizophrenia among others. The social determinants of health are the primary factors which have constantly contributed to this deteriorating mental health of the Aboriginals ((Markwick et al. 2014). This paper therefore seeks to discuss mental health of the Aboriginal people of Australia and how the social determinants of health determine their mental health. The paper further discusses some interventions that have been put in place to prevent and reduce the prevalence of mental health issues affecting the indigenous Australians (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011).
The Australian Aboriginals
According to the Australian Healthinfonet (2011), the Indigenous Australian population constituted 3% of the Australian population based on 2011 census. This population comprised of more young people with an average age of 21 years while most of the families had dependent children of approximately 49% and a considerable percentage of families who had one parent. This population is also affected by some social, behavioral, and cultural factors that impact their daily lives. A third of this population as at 2011 occupied major cities indicating a rise in the number of indigenous in urban cities compared to 2006 census. This could be attributed to their increased population, census improvement in conducting its activities and the ability of Aboriginals to identify themselves as indigenous (Government of Western Australian Mental Health Commission, 2010).
Mental Health of the Aboriginals
The health of the Aboriginals can be viewed holistically as the mental, physical, spiritual, political, ideological, cultural and environmental well being. Within this context, the Aboriginals mental health can be examined to establish the bases for the increased mental ailments among this population. For instance, ailments such as schizophrenia, depression and psychosis may have originated from cultural stress which was severe leading to lack of a sense of safety and security. The Aboriginal generally experience low standards in most of the determinants of health increasing their vulnerability not only to mental diseases but also other ailments related to poor living condition and lack of quality and accessible healthcare (Karen et al. 2014).
The colonization processes had far reaching effects to the Aboriginals and deprived them of their cultural values, destroyed families, and usual political as well as economic life subjecting them to so much stress. These critical elements of their lives defined them and their loss and disintegration greatly contributed to their deteriorating mental health. Their survival was founded on their culture and their great attachment to land after which it was repossessed leading to loss of hope for the future, depression and lifetime anxiety (Government of Western Australian Mental Health Commission, 2010). Most of the mental health complications experienced by the Aboriginals include schizophrenia, psychosis, and depression among others. The public health has constantly offered inadequate health care to the Aboriginals to treat their mental illness effectively and promote increased awareness on the importance of seeking medical attention early enough. Mental illness among the Aboriginals is also linked to biological factors and genetical influences play an important in determining if an individual will suffer from these ailments.
Relationship between mental health and the Aboriginal community
The Aboriginals culture and history is a critical factor in their total health. This is evidenced by the long lasting effects of colonization that led to post-traumatic stress and great anxiety as well as depression. The effects of colonization impacted greatly and have largely contributed to the increased levels of mental disorders among the Aboriginal community. In addition, these communities valued land and were hunters which was repossesses from them to promote urbanization increasing their stress levels which has consequently not led mental disorders but also such ailments as diabetes, cardiovascular and other diseases that can be linked to stress. The relationship between mental health and the Aboriginal community is a complex one and many factors have contributed to this community overall health complications ranging from inadequate income, low education levels, cultural beliefs and values, and poor living conditions among others. Additionally, for a long period of the Aboriginals history there has been lack of sufficient support culturally to advance the welfare of this community (Markwick et al. 2014).
The Aboriginals have a different perspective about mental health compared to that of non-indigenous Australians. While Aboriginals view seeking medical attention as inadequate and ...