Mental health and indigenous university students

Abstract

In essence, the concept of mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is very broad. The capacity to achieve good mental wellbeing rests largely with the individual’s relationship with family and community and connection to land, as well as spiritual and physical wellness (Australia. Department of Health and Ageing 2004). Recent research into the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal students from eight universities, revealed a large number of them had a diagnosed mental health issue. This paper with explore the students’ mental health issues and their relationship to the university experience.