Written by Angela Sheridan, WellMob
WellMob is based on the holistic model of social and emotional wellbeing for First Nations people that is more than just mental health. It includes resources to support connection to identity, culture and community that are important protective factors for First Nations wellbeing.
Feb 13 was the 15 year Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generation survivors and their families. It is important to commemorate this significant moment in national healing, acknowledging the wrongs of the past, while reflecting on the work that still needs to be done to address the impacts of unresolved trauma.
“The first step in healing trauma is often the acknowledgment of truth and the delivery of an apology. We commemorate the apology to keep the spirit of its words and their meaning alive.”
The Healing Foundation CEO Fiona Petersen
Read more on the National Apology here: Healing Foundation – National Apology – Fact sheet
Watch this Intergenerational Trauma Animation video from the Healing Foundation to further understand intergenerational trauma and its impacts on First Nations people or visit The Healing Foundation website for more information, education and support for Stolen Generations survivors and descendants.
Listen to Healing the trauma of the Stolen Generations podcast and hear from Stolen Generation survivor and Marumali program creator, Aunty Lorraine Peeters share her story of healing.
For more resources on Trauma and Healing visit Trauma and Healing or www.wellmob.org.au
The WellMob website is an online library of over 280 culturally safe Indigenous wellbeing resources.
These include videos, apps, fact sheets, websites, and podcasts that can be used by health and community workers with First Nations clients. both in and out of session as well as for workers self-care and professional development. Using online resources is a great way for workers and our diverse First Nations mob to understand and address health and wellbeing goals.
Why use the resources on WellMob as a digital mental health tool:
- Connect with culture: Videos about culture and community can help a client who lives off-country to digitally connect to culture and country as we know that culture is a protective factor of health Culture
- Health literacy: Online fact sheets & videos can help clients understand sometimes complex mental health and wellbeing conditions Mental health animations: depression, anxiety, psychosis, staying strong
- Accessible: Available 24-7 wherever you have Wi-Fi. Some resources have been produced in different First Nations languages The grog brain story [animation]
- Two-way yarn: Looking at a video or website together with your client can help break down communication barriers, be conversation starters and help build rapport How a psychologist uses technology to connect with young people
- Build cultural understanding: It is important that mainstream mental health services provide culturally appropriate care in clinical work. Training resources for professional development include videos on intergenerational trauma, and enhancing practice to be more culturally safe for First Nations clients/patients Training Resources support clinicians and practitioners to use digital mental health tools with first nations clients/patients eg Working with Aboriginal people: enhancing clinical practice in mental health care
- Empowerment: strength focused and narrative based resources can remove shame factor or stigma around sensitive issues & help clients make healthier choices Got a lot going on: No shame in talking about it
This Blog explains how social and emotional wellbeing differs to the mainstream view mental health and how resources on the website can be used: Indigenous Online Wellbeing Resources to Keep Our Mob Well | eMHprac | E-Mental Health in Practice.
Check out WellMob tips from workers For more information about how to use the WellMob website in your work with First Nations patients and clients.
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