Written by Angela Sheridan, WellMob

Using online resources with Indigenous clients can help strengthen their wellbeing as well as assist non – Indigenous workers to bridge gaps in cultural understanding and be able to provide a more culturally safe service. WellMob can help close the gap between the mainstream mental health care perspectives and the more culturally imbued and holistic view of Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB).

WellMob is a library of Indigenous online resources based on the holistic model of SEWB for First Nations people that is more than just mental health. It includes resources like apps, podcasts, videos, fact sheets and websites to support connection to identity, culture and community that are important protective factors for First Nations wellbeing with new resources being added to the website each month.

The WellMob website makes searching for and finding Indigenous specific resources on the internet easy. The resources are grouped under six main topic tiles. These tiles represent some of the domains of Indigenous SEWB. New resources are added each month and showcase resources will often be featured in this blog.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) offers a more culturally, politically, and socially embedded model to better understand how Indigenous mental health fits into broader psycho-social factors that contribute to the wellbeing of our First Nations people. This holistic view of health includes everything from personal and cultural identity to how we can interact with the world around us. It is our intertwined connections to country, community, identity, and spirituality. Our ancient Indigenous knowledge systems strengthen our ways of doing, knowing and being within this inter-connected world we live.

Here are some resources that explain what is meant by social and emotional wellbeing.

The whole Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child – Training Resources – WellMob

This short video explains what social and emotional wellbeing means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It talks about how connection to Country, culture, spirituality, family, and community are all parts of a child’s wellbeing.

Social and emotional wellbeing: a welcome guide for the Aboriginal workforce – Training Resources – WellMob

This guidebook aimed at workers in the Kimberley region looks at what social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) is and how to build it with clients and the community. It links to many resources for any workers to support SEWB in service delivery, and it includes a checklist for workers.

Watch this short video of Dr Jan Orman talking about how she has used WellMob to build on her knowledge around Indigenous SEWB.

How a GP builds cultural understanding in Aboriginal health – WellMob tips from workers – WellMob

The dispossession of land, forced removal of children from families, and other acts of violence have caused trauma across generations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is evidenced by the disproportionate rates of chronic disease, poor mental health, addictions, overcrowded housing, incarceration and inequality in education and employment.

Learn more about Intergenerational Trauma with this resource.

Intergenerational Trauma Animation – Training Resources – WellMob

Please note: This video features the voice of a person who has passed away. A cartoon video where Uncle Jack Charles explains intergenerational trauma and how it impacts young people.

This resource explains what complex trauma and trauma-informed care is and its importance in service delivery with First Nations people. It also talks about the importance of looking after yourself when working with people who have experienced trauma.

Social emotional wellbeing – Training Resources – WellMob

This report and accompanying video highlight many ways health and wellbeing workers can work in more culturally safe ways with Indigenous clients.

Working with Aboriginal people: enhancing clinical practice in mental health care – Training Resources – WellMob

This series of webinars from Emerging Minds enhances understanding of how to work in a more culturally safe and trauma-informed way with children and families. Topics include ‘Cultural Considerations in Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’ and ‘Perinatal Support Strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parents Experiencing Complex Trauma’.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing webinar archives – Training Resources – WellMob

Stay connected to WellMob through WellMob Linktr.ee by following us on social media, reading our Blogs and subscribing to our e-newsletter. This helps to keep you informed about new resources, tips and tricks of using digital mental health tools in your work with First Nations people.