Computerised emotional well-being and substance use questionnaires in young Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian adults

Abstract

Background: Mental health disorders rank among the most substantial causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Almost half of Australian adults experience mental illness at some point in their lifetime, with Indigenous Australians disproportionally affected. Thus, it is imperative that effective, acceptable screening tools are used, which are tailored to the target population. Objectives: This research investigates the methodology of computerised questionnaires in assessing the emotional well-being and substance use in Indigenous and non-Indigenous young adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data from young adults (21–28 years) in the Life Course Program, Northern Territory, Australia, are presented. Through an extensive consultation process, validated questionnaires were adapted to a computerised format suitable for both remote and urban residing Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults. Results: Of the 576 participants (459 Indigenous, 117 non-Indigenous) available for assessment, high consent rates were seen, with completion rates >86%. One in three young adults in this cohort were highlighted as ‘at risk’ of psychological distress, and one in five as ‘at risk’ of suicidal ideation or self-harm. Conclusion: The target population of this study were at a critical age with high levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation reported, particularly in Indigenous young adults. This simple, user-friendly, pictorial programme allowed assessment of a sensitive topic anonymously, while simultaneously collating data and identifying those at high risk, irrespective of literacy level or cultural background.

A Virtual Reality–Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for and With Inuit in Québec: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Using the WEMWBS, we can calculate mental health costs and quality-adjusted life-years [ 63 , 64 ]. In a study of Indigenous Australians, the Short-Form WEMWBS achieved an internal consistency of α=.69 to .88 [ 65 ]. The WEMWBS has also been evaluated in various minority and cultural groups [ 66 ].…”

Suicidal behavior is four times more frequent in university students with bipolar disorder assessed by an online version of Mood Disorder Questionnaire

“…However, a survey limited to one city may not be generalized to other students either from Brazil or other countries. 3) Topics such as suicide behavior may be more accurately assessed using self-report instruments [48]. There is a trend that individuals are more honest when fulfilling self-rated scales than in face-to-face interviews, especially if they feel stigmatized or judged about sensitive issues such as suicidality.…”

Factors Associated with Thoughts of Self-Harm or Suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Presenting to Urban Primary Care: An Analysis of De-Identified Clinical Data

“…Suicidal behaviours (suicide, suicide attempt and deliberate self-harm) amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are associated with stressful life events, racism and discrimination, incarceration, unemployment, financial issues, alcohol and substance use, exposure to abuse, residing outside the family home, living in regional or remote areas, interpersonal and family conflict, mental illness, and psychological distress [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Conversely, good interpersonal relationships and participation in sport are associated with reduced suicidal behaviours [ 23 ].…”

“…Similarly, whilst intentional self-injury is accepted as a separate construct, it is a strong predictive factor for suicide [ 27 , 28 ]. Heterogeneity in measurement tools, measurement intervals and study populations make general estimations on the prevalence of suicidal ideation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people impractical [ 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 23 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Moreover, these generalisations disregard the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and further highlight the need for community-specific data.…”