Yarning about Aboriginal Health The NSLHD Aboriginal Health Service recently held its second Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men’s Yarning Tea and Art Therapy session.
The yarning tea also is an opportunity for the participants to co-design a health check day program that is relevant to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. Social and emotional wellbeing is a priority and these sessions allow for men to openly discuss any issues affecting them. The session also provides a platform to discuss many issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men such as Stolen Generations, psychological distress and drug and alcohol issues.
RESEARCH IDENTIFIES HEALTH IMPACT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS More than 40 per cent of people injured in a traffic accident are psychologically distressed one month after their accident, with many of those suffering depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The research forms part of the latest findings into the physical and emotional impact of motor vehicle crash injuries by the team from the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research. Clinician and Kolling Institute researcher Professor Ashley Craig said their results follow a five year study involving more than 2,000 people injured in a motor vehicle accident. “One in three people injured in a traffic accident suffer depression and experience post-traumatic stress symptoms,” Professor Craig said. “By following patients over a long period of time, we now recognise that people suffering The day focused on connecting mob, yarning, painting and music. Attendees discussed as a group ways to attract more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men to the session as well as planning another Yarning Tea BBQ towards the end of the year. As word of mouth travels across the district, it’s hoped numbers will continue to increase.
Lisa Harvey, James Middleton, Ashley Craig, Bamini Gopinath, Ian Cameron and IIaria Pozzato
psychological distress are at a higher risk of developing severe mental health disorders, chronic pain and long-term disability, and that it can take much longer for them to recover. “This can lead to a dramatic increase in costs and take four times longer for crash survivors to recover.” Professor Ian Cameron said the team also examined factors influencing health outcomes after motor vehicle crash injury and approaches to improving wellbeing. “Traditional medical models often fail to assist recovery after a crash,” Professor Cameron said.
“Our research has shown that a return to usual activities as soon as possible is beneficial, challenging earlier recommendations that rest is best. “We have seen that family support, flexibility from employers, such as altered duties, and early treatment covered by insurance companies, all contribute to a quicker recovery. “With traffic injuries predicted to become the third leading cause of global burden by 2030, we hope that our findings will help influence future government policy and drive further reforms within the compensation system.”
8 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 16| 30 AUGUST 2019
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