World Mental Health Day: Moving Beyond Awareness to Real Change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
This October, during Mental Health Month and on World Mental Health Day (10 October), Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is calling for a fundamental shift from awareness to action, urging governments to invest in the systemic reforms needed to support the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
While themes like “Taking Steps on Your Wellbeing Journey” (New South Wales) and “Connecting When It Counts” (South Australia) are critical to raising awareness, for our communities, mental health is deeply embedded in our cultures, kinship systems, and connection to Country. A genuine commitment must therefore involve resourcing our community-led, holistic approaches to social and emotional wellbeing.
According to the latest Closing the Gap data, suicide rates among our people have worsened, rising to 30.8 per 100,000 in 2023, moving further away from the national target to reduce suicide to zero. This is more than double the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. Furthermore, psychological distress remains persistently high, affecting around one in three (30.2%) of our people.
“This October, as Australia focuses on mental health, we must move beyond awareness campaigns and commit to real, structural reform,” said Ms Rachel Fishlock, CEO of Gayaa Dhuwi.
“World Mental Health Day is a reminder that for our people, mental health is inseparable from our culture, our connections, and our right to self-determination. For too long, governments have endorsed our strategies in principle but failed to fund them in practice. The Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration Framework and Implementation Plan provides the roadmap. It’s time to invest in it and ensure our communities have the resources to lead the solutions that we know work.”
This call to action is grounded in the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration, which advocates for a ‘best of both worlds’ approach that combines cultural and clinical practices to achieve the highest attainable standard of social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention outcomes for our communities.
Professor Helen Milroy AM, Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi, said that a holistic understanding of health is crucial.
“Social and emotional wellbeing is a holistic concept that encompasses every part of a person’s life—their connection to spirit, Country, culture, and kin. It is the foundation of a healthy life, particularly for our children. When we see alarming and persistent rates of distress, we are not seeing individual failings, but the impact of systems that disrupt these vital connections. True mental health care for our people must be grounded in healing and cultural strength, nurturing resilience from the ground up. This isn't an alternative approach; it is the only approach that will work.”
Gayaa Dhuwi urges all Australian governments to fully fund and implement both the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration Framework and Implementation Plan and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035. These are not just documents but community-led blueprints for a future where our people can thrive.
ENDS
Gayaa Dhuwi reminds the public and media outlets of the importance of responsible and culturally respectful reporting when it comes to issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This includes adhering to the Good Yarn Guidelines and ensuring that crisis support services are promoted effectively.
24/7 crisis helpline services available to the community include:
13YARN (13 92 76) – a dedicated support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Brother to Brother crisis line (1800 435 799) – providing support for men
Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) – for young people in need of support
For further information, and resources, or to access support services, please visit www.gayaadhuwi.org.au.
About Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia
Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention. As a community-controlled organisation, it is governed and controlled by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts and peak bodies, working to promote collective excellence in mental health care.
Media Contact:
Ben Signor, Senior Policy Officer
0448 627 820
ben.signor@gayaadhuwi.org.au
www.gayaadhuwi.org.au