Individuals, Families, Peers, Elders & Communities
Resources for Social & Emotional Wellbeing Self-Support
Community is central to the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous people.
In consultations to develop this section of the Manual, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people told us that connection to community and culture provides belonging and meaning, and can foster resilience, which helps with coping during tough times.
People also said that in a crisis they would often prefer to manage the issue by themselves, or seek support from a friend, family member or Elder, rather than accessing formal, clinical supports.
That means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people need advice to assist them to manage their own wellbeing, or to support others. This can include practical strategies that may help with immediate distress, or advice on what kind of services may be able to help, and how to find them.
It is important to recognise that sometimes a mental health or wellbeing crisis may need a more urgent intervention. At the top of every page within the Manual there are links to crisis support services.
The following resources have been selected because they:
- were developed by, with and for Indigenous people
- are accessible, free to use, and do not require professional training
- have been reviewed to ensure they are current and culturally safe and appropriate.
The resources include checklists and support strategies, and multimedia resources such as videos and podcasts.
Some were produced within particular cultural contexts, or for groups including youth. These are clearly labelled.
Individuals
These resources are designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to manage their own mental health and social and emotional wellbeing.
In consultation meetings for the Manual, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people told us these resources were important, but they emphasised that social and emotional wellbeing is all about connection to community, and people should always reach out for support rather than trying to manage alone.
FILTER BY TOPIC / TYPE :
- All
- ∘ Cultural Understanding & Respect ∘
- ∘ LGBTIQ+ ∘
- ∘ Promoting Resilience & Preventing Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding After Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding to Crisis ∘
- ∘ Staying Safe & Well ∘
- ∘ Support & Hope After Losing Someone ∘
- ∘ Support in Tough Times ∘
- Apps
- Book
- Checklist/Tool
- Education/Tutorial
- Information/Booklet
- Podcast
- Video
- Website/Database
Yarning about Mental Health These videos from Menzies School of Health Research, contains strength-based messages around mental health and wellbeing. It also highlights the importance of culture, family and community in maintaining good mental health and provides tools that can be used to promote wellbeing. The video was developed with First Nations Australians in the Northern Territory.
This fact sheet aims to provide a basic understanding of psychotic illnesses, recognising what it looks and feels like, and offering coping strategies within our different cultural contexts. Source: 13YARN
Grief is an emotional response to loss, which might include the death of a loved one, loss of health, ending of a relationship, loss of a job, or a loss of cultural connection, such as moving off country. It is important to acknowledge and express those feelings without judgement. Source: 13YARN
This short animated video in Pitjantatjara language describes feelings of distress and how to offer and seek support. Source: Mental Health Association of Central Australia
This short animated video describes feelings of distress and how to offer and seek support. Source: Mental Health Association of Central Australia
This iOS app allows people to customise a safety plan for use in times of distress, with reminders of reasons to live and ways to stay safe. While the app is for use by anyone potentially at risk of suicide, Indigenous people with lived experience contributed to its design, and it can be readily configured to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community supports and images. Source: beyondblue
Financial stress refers to the anxiety and pressure individuals experience when they struggle to meet their monetary obligations, be it short-term expenses or long-term debts. Source: 13YARN
A series of videos from Yarns Heal campaign ambassadors: Taz, LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy ambassador, talks about the community support he experienced on coming out at age 17 Source: Yarns Heal - funded by Brisbane North PHN
Young People
FILTER BY TOPIC / TYPE :
- All
- ∘ Cultural Understanding & Respect ∘
- ∘ LGBTIQ+ ∘
- ∘ Promoting Resilience & Preventing Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding After Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding to Crisis ∘
- ∘ Staying Safe & Well ∘
- ∘ Support & Hope After Losing Someone ∘
- ∘ Support in Tough Times ∘
- Apps
- Book
- Checklist/Tool
- Education/Tutorial
- Information/Booklet
- Podcast
- Video
- Website/Database
The Break It Down video project, with youth in North Queensland, includes original music and stories of cultural connection from five communities. All the videos are also available through the Hitnet kiosk and wifi service for remote communities which may not have regular internet access. Break It Down is a project of North Queensland Primary Health Network, with Desert Pea Media. Short film featuring a grandmother teaching her granddaughter her traditional language.
George’s goal is to provide the kids of his community with direction, while emphasising cultural wisdom and respect for Country, to prevent them from going down the tough path that he has walked before. Source: Desert Pea Media/WNSWPHN
A series of videos from Yarns Heal campaign ambassadors: Tiahni, youth ambassador, talks about family, community and empowerment Source: Yarns Heal - funded by Brisbane North PHN
The Break It Down video project, with youth in North Queensland, includes original music and stories of cultural connection from five communities. All the videos are also available through the Hitnet kiosk and wifi service for remote communities which may not have regular internet access. Break It Down is a project of North Queensland Primary Health Network, with Desert Pea Media. Music video featuring the Bowen Connection group of Juru and South Sea Islander young people in the Bowen region.
Desert Pea Media – Music Videos Desert Pea Media works with Indigenous young people in regional and remote areas, using storytelling and audio-visual media to promote social and cultural dialogue, responding to issues including intergenerational trauma, suicide, unemployment and incarceration. The story of the four young people from Bourke High School in western NSW, who travelled to Darwin to accept the NIMA Community Clip Award for their song and music video Thundercloud, created to inspire and support mobs to be resilient and supported. Source: Desert Pea Media/WNSWPHN
The Break It Down video project, with youth in North Queensland, includes original music and stories of cultural connection from five communities. All the videos are also available through the Hitnet kiosk and wifi service for remote communities which may not have regular internet access. Break It Down is a project of North Queensland Primary Health Network, with Desert Pea Media. Music video from the Ilan Styles group of young people from Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.
Payten Thorne talks about the role of creativity - photography and drawing - in supporting her wellbeing. Source: Desert Pea Media/WNSWPHN
About Country and cultural identity. Source: KidsMatter
Families, Friends & Elders
These resources are intended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to support others, with strategies to help people through tough times and advice about when and how to seek additional assistance.
FILTER BY TOPIC / TYPE :
- All
- ∘ Cultural Understanding & Respect ∘
- ∘ LGBTIQ+ ∘
- ∘ Promoting Resilience & Preventing Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding After Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding to Crisis ∘
- ∘ Staying Safe & Well ∘
- ∘ Support & Hope After Losing Someone ∘
- ∘ Support in Tough Times ∘
- Apps
- Book
- Checklist/Tool
- Education/Tutorial
- Information/Booklet
- Podcast
- Video
- Website/Database
Fractured: Broken Ties, Reclaimed Lives These short videos describe the effect of removal from families on the Stolen Generations, and introduces the Link-Up service to reunite families. The Fractured project engaged Indigenous young people and their communities in producing images to reflect the strengths and participation of community members in everyday life. The stories are intended to challenge discrimination and racism and their effect on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Victimised/Assimalised/Correctionalised – Howard Edwards: Howard’s memories of being removed from his family, activism for Aboriginal people in Melbourne in the 1970s and 80s, and his work in community radion.
This fact sheet discusses mental health and wellbeing challenges, and how young people can look after themselves and seek support when they need it. Source: Headspace
This fact sheet shares some types of things that might make us worry or feel 'anxious', and ways that respect our culture for dealing with these worries and feelings. Source: 13YARN
In this video Ngiyampaa artist Sara Richards talks about the role of art-making in connecting with her culture and supporting her social and emotional wellbeing, and describes the process of developing an artwork for Capital Health’s (ACT PHN) Cultural Competency Framework. Source: Capital Health (ACT PHN)
Short resource describing the role of the coroner, including after a suicide. The resource covers identification, autopsy, funeral planning, death certification and Aboriginal family liaison. While it relates to Victoria, most content is general in nature and relevant in other states. Source: Coroner’s Court Victoria
This fact sheet gives advice to families when there has been a suicide at school, including how their child might react, how to support them and how to seek help for individuals and communities. Source: headspace
This resources describes how grief, loss and intergenerational trauma can affect children, and gives advice to families about how to respond. Source: Trauma & Grief Network
Wiradjuri man Mervyn Taylor discusses his experience as an Aboriginal Men’s Health District Coordinator in the Camden region of NSW in this 45 minute podcast. He works with the Gooboora Men’s Group, helping Indigenous men to understand connections between health and culture, and supporting them on their healing journeys. Source: We Are Men
Communities
These resources can help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, community leaders and organisations to plan community-level responses that promote social and emotional wellbeing and support people in crisis.
FILTER BY TOPIC / TYPE :
- All
- ∘ Cultural Understanding & Respect ∘
- ∘ LGBTIQ+ ∘
- ∘ Promoting Resilience & Preventing Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding After Suicide ∘
- ∘ Responding to Crisis ∘
- ∘ Staying Safe & Well ∘
- ∘ Support & Hope After Losing Someone ∘
- ∘ Support in Tough Times ∘
- Apps
- Book
- Checklist/Tool
- Education/Tutorial
- Information/Booklet
- Podcast
- Video
- Website/Database
About spirit and resilience. Source: Kids Matter
A series of videos from Yarns Heal campaign ambassadors: Taz, LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy ambassador, talks about the community support he experienced on coming out at age 17 Source: Yarns Heal - funded by Brisbane North PHN
About connection and resilience. Source: Kids Matter
The Break It Down video project, with youth in North Queensland, includes original music and stories of cultural connection from five communities. All the videos are also available through the Hitnet kiosk and wifi service for remote communities which may not have regular internet access. Break It Down is a project of North Queensland Primary Health Network, with Desert Pea Media. Short film about the 2004 death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee, narrated by his family and Bwgcolman community members, describing the impact on the community and their strength, connection and healing.
A series of videos from Yarns Heal campaign ambassadors: Actor and comedian Steven Oliver, who talks about self-acceptance especially during dark times Source: Yarns Heal - funded by Brisbane North PHN
This short film explores the positive influences of music on social and emotional wellbeing and features music from the Kututu Wattleseeds musical collaboration. Source: Mental Health Association of Central Australia
Uncle Les Coe yarns with young people about reconnecting with their cultural roots to grow proud and strong. Source: Desert Pea Media/WNSWPHN
Educational resources for secondary students (Years 10 to 12), developed around the three-part SBS documentary The Australian Wars, which describes the history of conflicts as Indigenous people resisted colonisation. Source: Blackfella Films, SBS Learn and Culture is Life