A National COVID-19 Pandemic Issues Paper on Mental Health and Wellbeing For Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Paper by Pat Dudgeon, Kate Derry and Michael Wright. The University of Western Australia Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. June 26, 2020.

Paper by Pat Dudgeon, Kate Derry and Michael Wright. The University of Western Australia Poche Centre for Indigenous Health.

June 26, 2020.

Research from previous pandemics shows clearly that an upsurge in the number and severity of mental health difficulties is likely in both the response and recovery phases. To avoid further exacerbating adverse downstream impacts and long-term social and economic costs to society, the historic underinvestment in the mental health of Australia’s First Peoples must be addressed.

This report calls for a coordinated response based on best practice research in Indigenous psychology and mental health. Indigenous governance must be prioritised to manage the COVID-19 recovery in communities through equitable, needs-based funding to support strengths-based, place-based, Indigenous-led, and community-led initiatives that address the social and cultural determinants of health and wellbeing.

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