Question

What physical, mental and emotional health issues/care needs of Aboriginal communities will you consider when working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in your region?

Question 1 Physical health issues/needs:

  Question 2   Mental health issues/needs:

  Question 3   Emotional health issues/needs:

Answer 1

Physical health issue

The aboriginal communities have decreased physical activities in daily life. Previously they performed many physical activities because they have to hunt for their food and need. As they start farming and settle down is a part that leads to a decrease in physical activities in daily life. This leads to rise in many disease conditions like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc. Malnutrition is also common among children. Difficult is the access of health care facilities. Smoking and alcohol consumption rates are very high among this group. The physical health issues include accessing the health care facilities nearby, prevent malnutrition among the children, and provision of health programs related to the prevention of diseases and changes in the lifestyle.

Mental health issue

The cultural stress, grief and trauma impact the mental health of the aboriginal communities. This leads to increase in the number of cases like depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm. People feel or give importance to physical health more than mental health. They do not have knowledge of the importance of mental health. So they need to understand the importance of mental health, education programs should give to the communities regarding the cope up method to the stress and how to keep the mental health.

Emotional health issue

The emotional health issue is related to mental health of the communities. Most of the people have stress in everyday life, the grief of loved one or family members. The family members and the society should support them to control the emotional problem and prevent to develop as mental health problem.