Experience of providing cultural safety in mental health to Aboriginal patients: A grounded theory study

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The need for mental health clinicians to practice cultural safety is vital in ensuring meaningful care and in moving towards improving the mental health outcomes for Aboriginal people. The concept of cultural safety is particularly relevant to mental health professionals as it seeks to promote cultural integrity and the promotion of social justice, equity and respect. A substantive theory that explained the experience of providing cultural safety in mental health care to Aboriginal patients was developed using grounded theory methodology. Mental health professionals engaged in a social psychological process, called seeking solutions by navigating the labyrinth to overcome the experience of being unprepared. During this process participants moved from a state of being unprepared to one where they began to navigate the pathway of cultural safety. The findings of this research suggest health professionals have a limited understanding of the concept of cultural safety. The experience of providing cultural safety has not been adequately addressed by organizations, health services, governments, educational providers and policy makers. Health services, organizations and government agencies must work with Aboriginal people to progress strategies that inform and empower staff to practice cultural safety.

Australian Indigenous model of mental healthcare based on transdiagnostic cognitive–behavioural therapy co-designed with the Indigenous community: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…3 Although disproportionate burden of mental disorders among Indigenous people has been attributed to the intergenerational impact of colonisation, others have acknowledged that interventions and services currently available may not be effective or culturally appropriate in supporting the health needs of Indigenous Australians. 4 Despite this notion, and the high levels of poor mental health, 2 the efficacy of treatments has rarely been assessed in controlled trials. 5 An urgent priority exists for the treatment of mental illness, and specifically depression, in this population.…”

Lip service: Public mental health services and the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

“…; McGough et al . ; Molloy & Grootjans ; Trueman ), but many of the nurses interviewed found their individual appreciation of these practice concepts was impotent in creating change in their wider organizations. The idea that biomedical interventions provide the tools to address mental illness is too deeply ingrained within the ideology, culture, and discourse of these services and is privileged within their hierarchical power structures (Lakeman ).…”

Wîcohkamakew – A qualitative description of parents, perinatal clinic staff, and mentor Elders experiences of a Nêhiyawi (Cree) community-derived Elders Mentoring Program: Findings from the ENRICH study

“…[29] There is no shortage of research calling for improved cultural safety for Indigenous patients in healthcare settings, particularly perinatal settings [8,25,[30][31][32]. Our findings suggest that consistent Elder presence in perinatal care offers a novel opportunity for ongoing experiential and reflective cultural safety learning for staff as opposed to the often one time, limited, and unidirectional cultural sensitivity trainings typically offered that tend to focus on cultural differences [33].…”

“…It is not enough to simply conduct research or provide healthcare in a "culturally sensitive way". For example, it was clear from extensive grounded theory research with health professionals that government agencies and health services and organizations need to work with Indigenous people in order to advance strategies that empower providers and staff to practice cultural safety and ultimately improve clinical interactions and patient outcomes [33]. Significant strides are now being made to make health practices and research practical and localized, rather than removed and devoid of investment.…”