Defining mental wellbeing

What does wellbeing refer to

• A state in which an individual is mentally, physically, and socially healthy and secure

What is mental wellbeing

• An individual’s current state of mind, including their ability to think, process information, and regulate emotions

How can someone’s level of mental wellbeing be assessed

• By their ability to function and cope with everyday demands, their mood patterns, and the quality of their social connections

Is mental wellbeing static

• No, it constantly fluctuates over time

What does the fluctuation of mental wellbeing over time lead to

• Individuals being placed on different points on the mental health continuum throughout their lifetime

What are some ways of considering mental wellbeing

• Levels of functioning

• Resilience

• Social & emotional wellbeing

What does "levels of functioning" in mental wellbeing refer to

• An individual’s ability to complete day-to-day tasks in an independent and effective manner

What benefits come with high levels of functioning

• Increased sense of capability, less easily overwhelmed, and the ability to function as a mentally healthy person within their environment

What are some characteristics of high levels of functioning

• Carry out everyday tasks (e.g., good hygiene)

• Communicate and maintain relationships

• Be productive in achieving tasks

• Set goals and work toward them

• Adapt to changes in the environment

What happens if a person cannot meet the demands of everyday life

• They are not achieving a high level of functioning, which may cause hopelessness, reduce self-belief, and negatively affect mental health

What are examples of high levels of functioning

• Carry out basic everyday tasks (e.g., hygiene, dressing)

• Be productive in daily tasks

• Set goals and work toward them

• Be independent*

• Adapt to changes in the environment

(*independence is relative to the person/situation — e.g., someone with a physical disability may still have high mental wellbeing if they can meet daily demands with assistance.)

What are examples of low levels of functioning

• Struggle with basic tasks (e.g., hygiene, dressing)

• Feel unusually lethargic/tired → unproductive

• Lack direction or ability to set goals

• Unable to cope with environmental changes

What is resilience in the context of mental wellbeing

• The ability to adapt to the environment and cope when stressors arise in order to return to a functioning state

What can high levels of resilience reflect and lead to

• High self-esteem

• More confidence in carrying out tasks

• Increased flexibility to cope with a range of stressors

What is resilience in mental wellbeing

• The ability to adapt to the environment and cope when stressors arise in order to return to a functioning state

What are examples of high levels of resilience

• Seek solutions to problems

• Use appropriate coping strategies

• Be flexible in changing circumstances

• Be optimistic and hopeful

What are examples of low levels of resilience

• Experience enduring feelings of being overwhelmed when problems arise

• Rely on unhealthy or unhelpful coping strategies

• Be unable to adapt to change

• Lack hope and optimism

Is resilience about being consistently happy or living without difficulty

• No — it’s about how someone responds to challenges and stressors

What is social and emotional wellbeing

• The ability to successfully cope with, and adapt to, adversity and restore positive functioning

What are some characteristics of strong social and emotional wellbeing

• Flexibility in adapting to new situations

• Interpreting stressors appropriately

• High self-efficacy

• Making realistic plans

• Skills in problem solving

• Sound emotional control

• Positive outlook when approaching stressors

What is social wellbeing

• The ability for an individual to form bonds with others and maintain positive relationships

What are examples of social wellbeing

• Having a strong support network

• Feeling valued by others

• Ability to form new relationships

• Having empathy for others

• Ability to effectively communicate

What is emotional wellbeing

• The ability for an individual to appropriately control and express their own emotions in an adaptive way, as well as understand the emotions of others

What are examples of emotional wellbeing

• Being sensitive to the emotions of others

• Having a wide range of emotions

• Expressing emotions at an appropriate time

• Appropriately responding to and coping with stressors

What are characteristics of high levels of social wellbeing

• Having a strong support network

• Ability to form and maintain meaningful relationships

• Ability to effectively communicate with others

What are characteristics of low levels of social wellbeing

• Being isolated or lacking support from others

• Difficulty forming and maintaining meaningful relationships

• Struggling to effectively communicate with others

What are characteristics of high levels of emotional wellbein

• Being aware of own and others’ current emotional state

• Experiencing a wide range of emotions

• Expressing emotions at appropriate times

What are characteristics of low levels of emotional wellbeing

• Inability to understand or name own and others’ emotions

• Feeling numb or unable to experience certain emotions

• Expressing emotions inappropriately or at inappropriate times (e.g., yelling at your boss at work)

What does the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) model do

• It situates mental wellbeing within a broader, holistic framework that recognises the importance of culture and history, reflecting the understandings and specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

What does it mean that the SEWB model is multidimensional

• It is made up of different components

What does it mean that the SEWB model is holistic

• It considers the whole person, including their mental, physical, spiritual, and social needs

How is wellbeing broadly understood in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

• As a holistic concept resulting from a connection between individuals and Country, understood and applied at a local level

What is cultural responsiveness

• It involves health professionals learning about local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history, reflecting on their power and privilege, demonstrating cultural humility, and addressing racism and discrimination

Why is cultural responsiveness important in healthcare

• It ensures that services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities are culturally safe and respectful

How does the SEWB model differ from the Western dual-continuum model

• The SEWB model uses a circular shape with the self embedded within layers of relationships and connections, while the dual-continuum model places the individual along two intersecting lines (horizontal and vertical)

What does the placement of the self in the centre of the SEWB model represent

• A collectivist understanding of human development, rather than an individualistic one

How many domains of relationships surround the self in the SEWB model

• Seven

What are the seven domains of wellbeing in the SEWB model

• Body and behaviours

• Mind and emotions

• Family and kin

• Community

• Culture

• Country

• Ancestors

what enables a strong and positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity according to the SEWB model

• The seven domains of wellbeing, which are distinct in the framework but interconnected

What does the ring around the seven domains represent

• The historical, political, cultural, and social contexts that influence the strength of connections between the individual and the seven domains (determinants of SEWB)

What does the outermost circle in the SEWB model represent

• The experiences and expressions of individuals and communities that change over time in response to social, historical, political, and cultural factors

What does the rippling wave symbol in the SEWB model represent

• The ebb and flow of change as risk factors disrupt connections and protective factors restore and strengthen connections

Can a person have different levels of connection to the seven SEWB domains at the same time

• Yes — some domains may be healthy while others may need support and healing

How does disruption or restoration of connections to the seven domains affect SEWB

• SEWB decreases when connections are disrupted and increases when connections are restored

What is the Body and behaviours domain of connection in the SEWB framework

• Description

• Risk factors

• Protective factors

• Description: Biological elements of physical health, including diet and exercise

• Risk factors: Smoking, alcohol, exposure to disease, exclusion from health systems, poor quality housing, overcrowding

• Protective factors: Playing sports, living on Country, hunting, fishing and gathering traditional foods and medicines, access to health services

What is the Mind and emotions domain of connection in the SEWB framework

• Description

• Risk factors

• Protective factors

• Description: Mental health and wellbeing, including culturally specific disorders or expressions of distress; experience of positive emotions, not just absence of disorder

• Risk factors: Threats to safety from racism, denial of human rights, over-incarceration, effects of intergenerational trauma

• Protective factors: Access to social supports, healthcare, education, recognition of human rights, truth-telling about colonisation

What is the Family and kinship domain of connection in the SEWB framework

• Description

• Risk factors

• Protective factors

• Description: Importance of family and wider kinship groups, reciprocal caring through gender and age roles, including respect for and learning from Elders

• Risk factors: History of Frontier Wars, killings and massacres; forced removal of children (Stolen Generations and child-protection policies)

• Protective factors: Connecting to family history, reconnecting families, parenting and family support programs, spending time with Elders

What is the Community domain of connection in the SEWB framework

• Description

• Risk factors

• Protective factors

• Description: Cohesion of community, enacting responsibilities (e.g., caring for Country); cultural identity of community

• Risk factors: Forced removal to missions and reserves; disruption of communities; fragmented relationships between family groups causing feuding and violence

• Protective factors: Restoration of self-determination and community control; community as a source of support, strength and connection

What is the Culture domain of connection in the SEWB framework

• Description

• Risk factors

• Protective factors

• Description: Cultural practices (yarning, ceremony, art, dance, song, storytelling, fire management of land); cultural knowledge of language, law, ethics; pride in cultural identity

• Risk factors: Loss of culture through removal from lands, splitting up of communities, child removal, assimilation policies

• Protective factors: Cultural and language revitalisation; participation in cultural practices

What is the Country domain of connection in the SEWB framework

• Description

• Risk factors

• Protective factors

• Description: Deep feeling of belonging to and spiritual connection with Country

• Risk factors: Removal and stealing of land and waterways; mining impacts; pollution of land and water

• Protective factors: Returning to Country, land rights and sovereignty, caring for and healing Country through traditional land management, reconnecting with culture and community tied to Country

What is the Ancestors domain of connection in the SEWB framework

• Description

• Risk factors

• Protective factors

• Description: Knowledge of belief systems, Dreaming, Songlines, healing practices, wisdom and hope

• Risk factors: Loss of knowledge through mission life, imposition of Christianity, assimilation

• Protective factors: Evolving expressions of cultural knowledge and identity, coexistence with Christianity, mindfulness practices such as Dadirri

What are social determinants in the SEWB framework

• Explanation: The circumstances in which people grow, live, and work, and the systems put in place to deal with illness (WHO, 2008).

• Examples: Socioeconomic status (level of wealth), poverty, unemployment, racial discrimination.

What are historical determinants in the SEWB framework

• Explanation: The ongoing influence of events, policies, and trauma on groups of people (AHRC, 2007).

• Examples: Colonisation and its legacy (loss of culture and language), impact of past government policies (Aboriginal child removal), unresolved issues of land.

What are political determinants in the SEWB framework

• Explanation: Political policies that shape the process of distributing resources and power to individuals and communities, creating or reinforcing social and health inequalities (Dawes, 2020).

• Examples: Control of local resources, rights of self-determination and sovereignty (making culturally informed choices, managing own lives).