Approximately one in three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience high to very high levels of psychological distress (31%), a number that’s 2.5 times higher than other Australians .
Suicide rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people increased by 17% between 2014-2018 , and the recent national health survey found that one in four respondents reported having a mental health and/or behavioural condition .
Yet, despite these alarming statistics, there’s a lack of mental health support services accessible to Indigenous people that have been designed in a way that truly meets their needs.
“There’s no one size fits all. Mental health challenges within the community are very complex, due to historical policies and intergenerational trauma,” said Di Kapera,.
“Added to that, COVID-19 means Indigenous people are now facing daily challenges that they haven’t experienced before.”
That’s why Remedy Healthcare and Australian Unity have been working with the community on a mental wellbeing program that’s designed for individuals first.
A phone-based mental wellbeing coaching program, Healing Minds is the first program of its kind to offer low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that’s provided by Indigenous people to Indigenous people.
Ms Kapera said what makes Healing Minds truly unique is the way it has been designed in collaboration with the Aboriginal community.
“Our intention from the outset has been to put the community at the heart of the program,” she said. “It is so important to make sure Healing Minds is culturally appropriate and meets the needs of our community.”
Led by [Australian Unity and Remedy Healthcare’s] Indigenous Services team, the program was co-designed with an advisory group, including a leading Aboriginal psychologist, Aboriginal cultural consultant, and consultant psychotherapist and academic from Flinders University, which also supports Remedy’s MindStep program, on which Healing Minds was initially based.
“Our advisory group brought so much value to the process. They have really shaped how the program looks and feels today, with the consultants offering a mix of lived experience and sound cultural advice,” said Ms Kapera.
This collaborative approach has ensured Healing Minds is guided by what's important to the community, and respects culture and builds trust, she adds.
Healing Minds offers confidential one-on-one sessions with Indigenous wellbeing coaches, who are trained in low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy.
“Our coaches are unique in terms of skills sets and both bring a very different flavour to the program, so we allocate clients based on who best meets the needs of individuals,” said Ms Kapera.
“With the coach, they can share their story and receive practical strategies to improve their mood and manage stress.”
While the program is in its early phases, Ms Kapera said it shows real promise.
“We’re really excited about Healing Minds. Since we started in July, the test and learn phase has genuinely defined the program, and I don’t think it will ever stop evolving,” she said.
“That’s the most beautiful thing about the program – our customers will define how it looks and feels and will continue to do that.”
Healing Minds is a confidential service for Indigenous people to access over the phone.