‘Empowering communities, thriving workforces: a journey towards investing in our mental health.’

This weekend kicks off Mental Health Week in Western Australia, an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of mental well-being and the social determinants affecting health for people and communities. For Aboriginal people, the ongoing impacts of colonisation, the Stolen Generations, racism, and inequality have contributed to greater disparities in mental well-being between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

At the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA), we recognise these disparities and others that Aboriginal people and their communities face in rural and metropolitan areas affecting mental health and well-being. We are working hard with our ACCHS to contribute to a future where equality is the expectation and norm—a mission that extends year-round.

Social and Emotional Well-being (SEWB) is the foundation of physical and mental health for Aboriginal people. SEWB is not the same as mental health and mental illness, though they can interact with and influence each other. It is a holistic concept that encompasses the significance of connection to land, culture, spirituality, and ancestry and how these factors affect well-being on both an individual and community level.

Our ACCHS SEWB Model of Service, created in consultation with AHCWA’s Member Services, guides the fundamentals of the work our SEWB team does, and several of AHCWA’s programs sit within this service. They include our SEWB Pilot Program; our Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence Pilot Program; and our Culture Care Connect Program. The SEWB Model of Service embeds seven positions with cultural and clinical expertise within our ACCHS; a Clinical Lead (Mental Health Clinician), a Cultural Lead (50D position), SEWB Workers (one male, one female, 50D positions), Qualified Counsellors (one male, one female), and Care Coordinators/Administration.

In addition, AHCWA’s Mental Health Senior Policy Officer is an integral part of our team, advocating for mental healthcare while continuously working to achieve the organisation’s mission. Ultimately, AHCWA aims to continue strengthening and promoting our ACCHS Model of Care and empowering Aboriginal people to attain health equality by influencing policy at all levels of government: Commonwealth, State, and local.

But our work is not only external. As part of a team, we also work internally to promote and encourage positive social and emotional well-being and mental health among AHCWA staff. We endeavour to do this through workplace self-care by embedding regular half-hour team walks every fortnight, promoting internal mental health first aiders and organisational mentors, endorsing a Bring Your Dog to Work Day, and hosting morning and afternoon teas throughout the year that raise further awareness on campaigns, including RUOK? Day, World Suicide Prevention Day, and Ochre Ribbon Week.

This year’s WA Mental Health Week theme emphasises the need for supportive networks in and outside of the workplace, the ability to curate and implement long-term action plans, and coping skills in all areas of life. Encouraging collective empowerment, Mental Health Week aims to highlight the benefit of a healthy, positive environment while pushing you to advocate for yourself and your well-being.

This emphasis and the ongoing work within AHCWA to create a positive work environment, challenge stigma, and make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of Aboriginal people and communities will continue this WA Mental Health Week and long after.

For additional information, please email [email protected]