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Social and Emotional Well-Being: “Aboriginal Health in Aboriginal Hands”

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Handbook of Rural, Remote, and very Remote Mental Health

Abstract

An understanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health discourse of social and emotional well-being (SEWB) is necessary for effective and culturally safe work in rural and remote communities. Composed of seven inter-connected domains of well-being – country, culture, spirituality, community, family and kinship, mind and emotions, and body – SEWB represents a cultural understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander relationality, identity, and holistic individual, family, and community health. Risk and protective factors for SEWB are detailed, evidence which supports the connections between well-being and the domains is presented, and finally, the findings of a strengths-based SEWB inquiry with older people in a remote community are discussed. In total, this chapter provides a valuable guide to essential principles, concepts, and practices, for those working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in rural and remote areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indigenous Studies, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia

    Pat Dudgeon & Abigail Bray

  2. School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, University of Queensland, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Chontel Gibson

Authors
  1. Pat Dudgeon
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  2. Chontel Gibson
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  3. Abigail Bray
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Correspondence to Pat Dudgeon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Flinders University, Centre for Remote Health, Alice Springs, NT, Australia

    Timothy A. Carey

  2. Fac. of Business, Justice a. Behav. Sci., Charles Sturt University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Judith Gullifer

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Dudgeon, P., Gibson, C., Bray, A. (2020). Social and Emotional Well-Being: “Aboriginal Health in Aboriginal Hands”. In: Carey, T.A., Gullifer, J. (eds) Handbook of Rural, Remote, and very Remote Mental Health. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5012-1_28-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5012-1_28-1

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