Systematic review on Public Health topic. Research Proposal

Alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Australia
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Abstract
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people in Australia represents hundreds of indigenous tribes in Australia. Additionally, it is estimated that individuals in these communities are faced with numerous social challenges such as poverty, lack of food, marginalization, and lack of access to better healthcare. Additionally, these social challenges have also promoted substance use problems such as alcohol consumption. The research aims to assess the extent of alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia. It is also focused on evaluating the effect of stressors on the mental health of the indigenous people. The objectives include exploring the impact of alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia and to determine the relationship between the stressors and alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among the target population. The research will employ qualitative and quantitative research methods that will be critical in providing numerical and descriptive data about alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The outcomes will be essential in evaluating the effectiveness of existing policies and changes that should be implemented in the public health system to addressing mental health problems among indigenous communities in Australia.
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Background
Ideally, substance abuse and mental illness have an intricate connection as most addicted individuals are more likely to suffer from different medical conditions. For example, it has been identified that the treatment of persons who have alcohol use disorder may be made complex by psychiatric conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder. This has been determined to be true because individuals with substance use problems are more likely to develop systematic symptoms such as constant avoidance of stimuli and changes in moods and can also cause alterations in arousal and reactivity (Petrakis & Simpson, 2017). Importantly, it is essential to comprehend that individuals with PSTD are at high risk of abusing substances, including alcohol use. Carter, Capone & Short (2011) explain that PTSD has become a critical issue in the healthcare sector, particularly among populations that have suffered from trauma. Also, it is has been noted that people who are a high risk of encountering stressful environments are likely to developed PSTD.
Alcohol use disorder is associated with extreme stresses that are likely to promote PSTD. There is a close connection between heavy drinking, anxiety, and PSDT. Most often, people who are exposed to high stress may easily suffer from PSTD and would result in drinking alcohol as a strategy for managing the symptoms of this disorder (Neupane, Bramness & Lien, 2017). Ideally, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia are likely to be exposed to numerous stressors that would impact their mental wellbeing and leave them at risk for the alcohol-related disorder and PSDT. It has been determined that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia have aa relatively short life expectancy. This has been facilitated by different factors such as the widespread massacres across the country and the increase of non-communicable diseases that have significantly affected the communities (Markwick et al., 2014). These stressors are likely to increase the levels of stress among people from these communities and would facilitate alcohol use and PSDT among other mental conditions. Additionally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote, regional and urban areas across the country are vulnerable to food shortage, and this is promoted by a range of other different factors that may include low income, high poverty levels and lack of access to healthy food (Davy, 2016). The exposure of the minority groups in Australia to these stressors increases their risk of misusing alcohol and developing PSTD.
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Aims and Objectives
Research Aims
1 Assessing the extent of alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia.
2 Evaluating the effect of stressors on the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3 Analyzing the effects of the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on public health.
Research objectives
1 To explore the effects of alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia.
2 To identify the factors that increase the risks of mental health conditions among the target population.
3 To determine the relationship between stressors and alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among the target population.
4 To explore how the mental health conditions among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affect the country’s public health system.
5 To propose recommendations that would be evaluated to minimize the risk of mental health in the target population.
The research will be critical in evaluating and examining essential issues associated with the extent of alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The research will evaluate the stressors that increase the risk of the target population to develop alcohol abuse disorder and PSDT. It will also be critical to determine how mental health conditions affect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Besides, the research will be vital in determining the relationship between the stressors prevalent among the target population and mental health disorders such as PSTD.
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Methodology
Rationale and justification of the research
Researchers have conducted studies to determine the extent of mental health among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. However, the studies have not examined the relationship between alcohol use and post-traumatic stress disorder among this population. Additionally, the research is critical because the Abori...