Articles

New Solutions for Addressing Indigenous Mental Health: A Call to Counsellors to Introduce the New Positive Psychology of Success

Rhonda G. Craven^a1 c1 and Gawain Bodkin-Andrews^a2

^a1 Self-concept Enhancement and Learning Facilitation (SELF) Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, Australia. r.craven@uws.edu.au

^a2 Self-concept Enhancement and Learning Facilitation (SELF) Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

Australia's ‘black’ history has had and continues to have a pervasive and adverse impact on Indigenous Australians. In fact, Indigenous Australians are the most disadvantaged Australians based on all socioeconomic indicators that serve to drive life potential. There is also a dearth of scholarly research available, particularly in relation to Indigenous children in the schooling sector and mental health. However, recent research with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations offers new, potentially potent, solutions. In this article we provide (a) a rationale for Indigenous mental health being a significant social issue of our time, (b) a summary of some recent research findings pertaining to mental health of young Indigenous Australians, (c) outline why a positive psychology approach offers a new solution for intervention with specific reference to the importance of the self-concept construct for Indigenous students, and (d) call upon counsellors, practitioners, and policy makers to implement and evaluate the latter approach.

Correspondence:

^c1 Address for Correspondence: Professor Rhonda G. Craven, Acting Director, SELF Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, Bankstown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC NSW 1797, Australia.