A safe place to talk: Participant experiences and community recommendations from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide prevention program

Article


Gibson, Mandy, Ward, Raelene, Lewis, Suzie, Kolves, Kairi, Rallah, Rahm and Darwin, Leilani. 2022. "A safe place to talk: Participant experiences and community recommendations from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide prevention program ." Australian Community Psychologist. 31 (2), pp. 23-38.
Article Title

A safe place to talk: Participant experiences and community recommendations from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide prevention program

ERA Journal ID41450
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsGibson, Mandy, Ward, Raelene, Lewis, Suzie, Kolves, Kairi, Rallah, Rahm and Darwin, Leilani
Journal TitleAustralian Community Psychologist
Journal Citation31 (2), pp. 23-38
Article Number2
Number of Pages16
Year2022
PublisherAustralian Psychological Society
ISSN1835-7393
Web Address (URL)https://psychology.org.au/for-members/publications/journals/australian-community-psychologist/acp-issues/volume-31,-no-2/a-safe-place-to-talk-participant-experiences-and-c
Abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Queensland die by suicide at more than four times the rate of their non-Indigenous peers. As the evidence of successful suicide prevention is limited, understanding effective mechanisms is crucial. The United Health Education and Learning Program (UHELP) pilot program evaluation found a significant decrease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicidal ideation. A further qualitative analysis to explore participants’ experiences and perspectives to identify intervention elements contributing to the positive outcomes was conducted and presented in this paper. In total 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people of 54 returned their surveys about the program. A qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended questions revealed three main themes: 1) connectedness; 2) confidence; and 3) knowledge. Within the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, the thematic analysis results were further discussed and reviewed within the broader community. From these findings the following recommendations were made at a community level for future UHELP deliveries: 1) facilitators should be accessible for young people to connect with after the sessions, rather than implementing the content in a stand-alone approach; 2) UHELP sessions should include staff from local mental health services that participants could access for treatment; and 3) evaluate impact of UHELP on cultural identity and connectedness.

Contains Sensitive ContentContains sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520501. Community psychology
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsGriffith University
University of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z59v8/a-safe-place-to-talk-participant-experiences-and-community-recommendations-from-an-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-youth-suicide-prevention-program

  • 14
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Can culturally safe general practice telehealth overcome barriers to care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians? A qualitative study
Woodall, Hannah, Evans, Rebecca, McArthur, Lawrie, Sen Gupta, Tarun, Ward, Raelene and Brumpton, Kay. 2025. "Can culturally safe general practice telehealth overcome barriers to care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians? A qualitative study." BMJ Open. 15 (4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-089436
Racial discrimination and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide mortality rates in Queensland
Gibson, M., Leske, S., Ward, R., Rachow, A. and Kolves, K.. 2024. "Racial discrimination and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide mortality rates in Queensland." Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology: the international journal for research in social and genetic epidemiology and mental health services. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-024-02786-z
Project Yarn Circle: development and pilot evaluation of a cultural connection suicide prevention program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
Gibson, Mandy, Rolls, Charles, Robson, Mark, Ward, Raelene, Stuart, Jaimee and Lambd, Debbie. 2024. "Project Yarn Circle: development and pilot evaluation of a cultural connection suicide prevention program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people." Australian Psychologist. 59 (6), pp. 508-522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050067.2024.2404977
A low-cost, antimicrobial aloe-alginate hydrogel film containing Australian First Nations remedy ‘lemon myrtle oil’ (Backhousia citriodora) – Potential for incorporation into wound dressings
Seneviratne, Dinuki M., Raphael, Brooke, Whiteside, Eliza J., Windus, Louisa C.E., Kauter, Kate, Dearnaley, John D.W., Annamalai, Pratheep K., Ward, Raelene, Song, Pingan and Burey, Paulomi (Polly). 2024. " A low-cost, antimicrobial aloe-alginate hydrogel film containing Australian First Nations remedy ‘lemon myrtle oil’ (Backhousia citriodora) – Potential for incorporation into wound dressings." Heliyon. 10 (18). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37516
Perspectives on improving wound care for Aboriginal health workers in rural and remote communities in Queensland, Australia
King, Helena, Whiteside, Eliza, Ward, Raelene, Kauter, Kate, Byrne, Martin, Horner, Vicki, Nutter, Helen and Lea, Jackie. 2024. "Perspectives on improving wound care for Aboriginal health workers in rural and remote communities in Queensland, Australia." BMC Health Services Research. 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11490-2
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide mortality and previous mental health, suicidality and service use in Queensland, Australia, from 2001 to 2021
Gibson, M., Leske, S., Ward, R., Weir, B., Russell, K. and Kolves, K.. 2024. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide mortality and previous mental health, suicidality and service use in Queensland, Australia, from 2001 to 2021." Journal of Affective Disorders. 354, pp. 55-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.013
Exploring what GP registrars consider distinctive to consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients: A mixed-methods study
Brumpton, Kay, Woodall, Hannah, Evans, Rebecca, Neill, Henry, Sen Gupta, Tarun, McArthur, Lawrie and Ward, Raelene. 2024. "Exploring what GP registrars consider distinctive to consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients: A mixed-methods study." BMJ Open. 14 (5). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082137
Exploring how Australian general practice registrars define cultural safety with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients: a mixed method study
Brumpton, Kay, Woodall, Hannah, Evans, Rebecca, Neill, Henry, Sen Gupta, Tarun, McArthur, Lawrie and Ward, Raelene. 2024. "Exploring how Australian general practice registrars define cultural safety with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients: a mixed method study." BMC Primary Care. 25 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02422-4
Assessing cultural safety in general practice consultations for Indigenous patients: protocol for a mixed methods sequential embedded design study
Brumpton, Kay, Ward, Raelene, Evans, Rebecca, Neill, Henry, Woodall, Hannah, McArthur, Lawrie and Sen Gupta, Tarun. 2023. "Assessing cultural safety in general practice consultations for Indigenous patients: protocol for a mixed methods sequential embedded design study." BMC Medical Education. 23 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04249-6
Embedding Authentic First Nations Content within Biomedical Science Curriculum
Myer, Sarah, Fossey, Uncle Wayne, Ward, Raelene and Whiteside, Eliza J.. 2022. "Embedding Authentic First Nations Content within Biomedical Science Curriculum." Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (2022). Perth, Australia Sydney, Australia.
Assessment of cultural safety in a post–Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) era
Brumpton, Kay, Sen Gupta, Tarun, Evans, Rebecca and Ward, Raelene. 2022. "Assessment of cultural safety in a post–Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) era ." Australian Journal of General Practice. 51 (1-2), pp. 90-93. https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-08-21-6120
A consistent definition of cultural safety within Australian health professional education: a scoping review
Brumpton, Kay, Evans, Rebecca, Ward, Raelene and Sen Gupta, Tarun. 2022. "A consistent definition of cultural safety within Australian health professional education: a scoping review." AlterNative: an international journal of indigenous peoples. 18 (3), pp. 436-444. https://doi.org/10.1177/11771801221118950
The research higher degree journey for Aboriginal students
Best, Odette, Ward, Raelene, Johnston, Elizabeth and Easton, Caitlin. 2020. "The research higher degree journey for Aboriginal students." Trimmer, Karen, Hoven, Deborah and Keskitalo, Pigga (ed.) Indigenous postgraduate education: intercultural perspectives. Charlotte, United States. Information Age Publishing. pp. 179-189
Suicide prevention: exploring Aboriginal understandings of suicides from a social and emotional wellbeing framework
Ward, Raelene Marie. 2019. Suicide prevention: exploring Aboriginal understandings of suicides from a social and emotional wellbeing framework. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. University of Southern Queensland. https://doi.org/10.26192/fabw-ct74
Retention of Indigenous pre-service teachers enrolled in an Australian regional university
Trimmer, Karen, Ward, Raelene and Wondunna-Foley, Linda. 2018. "Retention of Indigenous pre-service teachers enrolled in an Australian regional university." Teaching and Teacher Education. 76 (Special Issue), pp. 58-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2018.08.006
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emergency department utilisation in south-east Queensland
King, Helena, Ward, Raelene, King, Alexander B, Rahman, Muntasirur and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas. 2019. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emergency department utilisation in south-east Queensland ." King, H. (ed.) 15th National Rural Health Conference . Hobart, Australia 24 - 27 Mar 2019 15th National Rural Health Conference Proceedings .
Community controlled health services: what they are and how they work
Ward, Raelene, Fredericks, Bronwyn and Best, Odette. 2014. "Community controlled health services: what they are and how they work." Best, Odette and Fredericks, Bronwyn (ed.) Yatdjuligin: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery care. Australia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 87-100
Building bridges: learning from the experts: building bridges to implement successful life promotion and suicide prevention expertise across Aboriginal communities
Ward, Raelene. 2009. Building bridges: learning from the experts: building bridges to implement successful life promotion and suicide prevention expertise across Aboriginal communities. Cairns, Australia. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Racism, discrimination and health services to aboriginal people in South West Queensland
Ward, Raelene and Gorman, Don. 2010. "Racism, discrimination and health services to aboriginal people in South West Queensland." Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal. 34 (6), pp. 3-5.
Developing suicide prevention expertise with Aboriginal communities
Gorman, Don and Ward, Raelene. 2008. "Developing suicide prevention expertise with Aboriginal communities." Mental Health Nursing – A Broad Canvas: The Art of Mental Health Nursing in the Age of Technology and Science (2008). Melbourne, Australia 06 - 10 Oct 2008 Canberra, Australia. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0349.2008.00563.x