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Mental Health And Stereotypes: The Indigenous People Of Australia

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The indigenous people of Australia, are both heavily traditional people, who have had to face some issues regarding communication, health, stereotypes as well as human right breaches.
Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders are the indigenous Australians that are descended from families that inhabited Australia and its surrounding islands before the British colonized Australia. The indigenous Australians have inhabited Australia for around 60,000 years. There are several hundred indigenous Australian languages, and some are on the brink of extinction. There was originally 500 separate ‘nations’ which held different cultures, beliefs and languages.
Racism and economic disadvantage as well as policies such as segregation have caused a distrust …show more content…

Indigenous Australians are four times more likely to have diabetes (type 1 and 2) than non-indigenous Australians. People in remote areas were more likely to have it due to the lack of resources in their areas to maintain their health. Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders who live in remote villages are at a greater risk of developing serious illnesses because they are so excluded from doctors and essential medical attention. Another consequence of living in remote areas is the lack of resources for support during mental health crisis. With the negative stigma surrounding mental health, indigenous people may find it difficult to accept they do have a mental health problem, which can result in the problem being left untreated and not attended to. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders also have the connections of beliefs such as their Dreamtime to assist them through both mental illnesses and emotional issues.
Some of the negative stereotypes include the following, they are nomadic people, receive more benefits than non-indigenous Australians, they live in the outback, they do not work and are lazy, they don’t follow any religious groups, are involved in too much crime, are primitive and they must fit the stereotype of a dark-skinned and ‘full-blood’ aboriginal or Torres Strait …show more content…

Materialism and celebrities have become influences on both indigenous and non-indigenous people of Australia and is becoming more popular than traditional customs. The colonization of Australia has also been one of the reasons that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders native language is dying out. Although influences have become popular, their traditions are still an important aspect of their daily lives and keeping up with their cultural

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