Why is it important to consider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) culture in relation to mental health?
There are many factors that contribute adversely to the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strart Islanders. For more than two centuries Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have had to contend with the consequences of dispossession of their land and culture. Furthermore they have been subjected to discriminatory practices that have resulted in them being denied a valued place in Australian society. The feelings associated with these practices pervade the lives of the vast majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, in varying degrees. Furthermore, Westernapproaches to mental health are not well-equipped to support and understand the consequences of dispossession and denial of culture, which results in a serious lack of appropriate service provision. • The many physical health problems of people in ATSI communities impact on their mental health. People with some form of physicial impairment or disability for instance are likely to also experience a range of adverse mental
