Citation

Skerrett DM, Gibson M, Darwin L, Lewis S, Rallah R, De Leo D. Aust. Psychol. 2018; 53(1): 13-22.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Australian Psychological Society, Publisher Wiley-Blackwell)

DOI

10.1111/ap.12277

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The suicide rate for Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people is over four times that of their non-Indigenous counterparts, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (under 15) dying by suicide at 12 times the non-Indigenous rate. There is a need for interventions that are culturally validated and community-endorsed. The aim of this article is to describe the design and implementation of a group-based intervention, as well to report the results of the various qualitative and quantitative measures.

METHOD: Sixty-one Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons aged 11-21 years completed a social-emotional wellbeing (SEWB) program at headspace Inala. Data were available through to 2-month follow-up for 49 participants. The program was designed and delivered in collaboration with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in suicidal ideation experienced by the participants after completing the program. Qualitative measures indicated that participants experienced improved understanding of holistic health and an increased number of coping skills.

CONCLUSIONS: Not only was this the first evaluated intervention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to ever report a decrease in individual suicidality, the program was carefully designed and implemented in consultation with community in a culturally sensitive manner and thus provides an invaluable framework for future SEWB work. © 2017 The Australian Psychological Society

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; youth; evaluation; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; social–emotional wellbeing