313394 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Social Exclusion, Environmental Racism, Structural Violence
WEEK 7: Social emotion and physical wellbeing.
Social and Emotional wellbeing
Determinants of social, emotional and physical wellbeing are multiple, interconnected, and develop and
act across the life course from conception to late life. Social, emotional, cultural, psychological
(mental) and spiritual wellbeing are the elements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and
emotional wellbeing.
History, illness/disability, death of family and community members/friends, substance use and social
and economic factors negatively impact wellbeing, whilst connection to family and friends, to land,
community and ancestry (family history) act as a source of resilience (Garvey, 2008).
Many health services are not as accessible and user friendly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people as they are for non-Indigenous Australians, adding to higher levels of
disadvantage. The development of social and economical wellbeing can be prompted, facilitated
and constrained by several key mechanisms that modify its determinants.
Prompts – require or cause development in wellbeing to occur at particular times.
o Biological: Key biological process. Development in the form of milestones. E.g. crawling.
o Expectations: Social and emotional capacities in children are prompted by parent expectations
about the capacities of their children. Including values, attitudes and beliefs.
o Opportunities: The chance to talk, play, interact and read can have significant onward
development benefits for the child.
Facilitators – help assist or make easier the growth, establishment, elaboration and maintenance of
wellbeing.
o Intellectual flexibility: wellbeing is facilitated by intellectual flexibility, outgoing personality.
o Good language development: Children with poor speech are at high risk of significant
emotional/behavioural difficulties.
o Emotional support: Encouragement of reaching milestones and exploring supports the child
emotionally, increasing their health and
wellbeing.
Constraints –inhibit or prevent development of
wellbeing.
o Stress
o Chaos
o Social exclusion
o Racism
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Figure 1 suggests that individuals, families and communities are shaped by:
1. Connection to body.
2. Connection to mind and emotions.
3. Connection to family and kinship.
4. Connection to community.
5. Connection to spirituality and ancestors.
6. Connection to country and culture.
7. Social, cultural, political and historical determinants.
Connections to body
Physical wellbeing
Connections to mind and emotions
• Relates to the cognitive, emotional and psychological experiences - not only related to mental
illness.
• Relates to fundamental human needs:
o feeling safe and secure
o belonging
o control/mastery
o self-esteem
o meaningful
o values
o motivation
o achieving secure relationships.
Connections to family and kinship
• Aspects of wellbeing that find their origins in interpersonal interaction.
• Family and kinship relationships - complex and diverse, cultural ties and reciprocal relationships
exist.
• Importance of community.
Connections to community
• Fundamental to identity.
• Collective space where relations are built, networks occur.
• Sense of belonging.
Connections to spirituality and ancestors
• Spirituality.
• Cultural world view and beliefs are connected to spirituality.
Figure 1: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s social and emotional wellbeing. Adapted from
Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and
Practice (p. 63), by G. Gee, P. Dudgeon, C. Schultz, A. Hart, & K. Kelly, 2013, (2nd ed.), Canberra,
ACT: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
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• Traditionally linked to ‘The Dreamtime’ – knowledge left by ancestral beings, stories, rituals and
ceremonies that connect person, land and place.
• Learn about moral and ethical practices, obligations and responsibilities.
• Connections to spirituality impacted by colonisation, cultural void.
• Today, transformed by other cultures, multiple contexts, operates alongside other religions.
Connections to country and culture
• Traditionally spirituality closely connected to land or ‘country’.
• Collectively shared values, practices, shared values, customs and traditions, leads to secure
identity.
• Connection to culture relates to capacity and opportunity to sustain/create or re-create healthy
relationships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
• Colonisation had a profound effect on culture.
• Stolen Generations and descendants have experienced deep grief and desire to reconnect to
heritage and ancestry.
• Health professionals need to be aware of healing programs, education and training programs
centred on healing and recovery.
Social, cultural, political and historical determinants
• Poverty.
• Unemployment.
• Housing.
• Educational attainment.
• Racial discrimination.
• Exposure to violence.
• Trauma and stressful life events.
• Access to community resources.
• Historical determinants.
• Political - relates to land, control of resources, cultural security, right to self-determination.
(Gee et al., 2013)
Stressors and statistics relating too Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing
Measuring social and emotional wellbeing is difficult. The 2012-13 Australian Aboriginal Torres Strait
Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS) measured social and emotional wellbeing via subjective self-reports
relating to happiness or calmness or 'stressors', i.e., stressful events in a person's life. Approximately
four out of five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reported feeling calm and peaceful, full of
life, and were on the whole more content with life than their non-Indigenous counterparts, but
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults were almost three times more likely to feel high or very
high levels of psychological distress than non-Indigenous adults (ABS, 2013; Steering Committee,
2014).
Based on the 2012–13 Health Survey, most (70%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults had
low/ moderate levels of psychological stress and 30% had high/very high levels (Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health Performance Framework, 2014).
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Document Summary
Determinants of social, emotional and physical wellbeing are multiple, interconnected, and develop and act across the life course from conception to late life. Social, emotional, cultural, psychological (mental) and spiritual wellbeing are the elements of aboriginal and torres strait islander social and emotional wellbeing. History, illness/disability, death of family and community members/friends, substance use and social and economic factors negatively impact wellbeing, whilst connection to family and friends, to land, community and ancestry (family history) act as a source of resilience (garvey, 2008). Many health services are not as accessible and user friendly for aboriginal and torres strait. Islander people as they are for non-indigenous australians, adding to higher levels of disadvantage. The development of social and economical wellbeing can be prompted, facilitated and constrained by several key mechanisms that modify its determinants. Prompts require or cause development in wellbeing to occur at particular times: biological: key biological process.
