Unacceptably high: an audit of Kimberley self-harm data 2014–2018

Abstract

Objective: To explore the rates and characteristics of self-harm across the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Method: Retrospective, cross-sectional audit. We obtained and descriptively analysed routinely collected self-harm data from the Kimberley District of the Western Australia Police Force (2014–2018) and the Emergency Department Data Collection (June 2017–December 2018). Variables included age, sex, Indigenous status, time of incident, and alcohol and drug use. Results: The rate of emergency department attendance for self-harm was three times higher in the Kimberley than the rest of Western Australia. Both emergency department and police data showed a disproportionately high percentage of incidents involving Aboriginal people, with highest rates in the 15–19 and 20–24 year age groups. Almost 80% of self-harm events recorded by police involving individuals aged 25–50 years involved alcohol. Many self-harm incidents occurred in the evening and at night. Conclusions: The rates of self-harm across the Kimberley region from 2014–2018 are unacceptably high. Increased funding and alignment of services to meet regional need are required as part of a holistic effort to reduce regional rates of self-harm.

Exploring Mental Health Presentations in Remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia Using an Audit and File Reviews

“…Our findings highlight the importance of adopting a standardized approach to the clinical coding of presentations related to mental health. This approach is currently not implemented in Kimberley health services [5] and represents an important gap in service delivery. Moving towards standardized clinical coding will help the clinics to identify the extent and particulars of mental health presentations.…”

“…First Nations people across Australia are resilient and, in many cases, flourishing; however, at a population level, there is psychological distress [1]. Self-reported surveys [2], hospitalizations with mental health as the primary reason for admission [3], suicide rates [4], and self-harm data [5] all demonstrate the high rates of mental ill-health amongst the First Nations population. Reducing rates of mental ill-health, including suicide, amongst First Nations people is recognized by the Australian Government as a matter of national priority [6].…”

Implementation of the ‘Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale’ across primary health care services in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: A mixed methods assessment

“…Health care is provided by ACCHSs and WACHS, a State Government health service. Aboriginal people in the Kimberley demonstrate resiliency and survival despite the intergenerational impacts of colonisation, which contribute to high levels of socioeconomic disadvantage, high burden of chronic diseases, and elevated levels of psychological distress [25,26].…”

Understanding Aboriginal Models of Selfhood: The National Empowerment Project’s Cultural, Social, and Emotional Wellbeing Program in Western Australia

“…By imposing individualistic constructions of human behaviour on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, mainstream psychology negates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems and constructions of identity and holistic health and wellbeing [ 25 ]. This is evident in the paucity of culturally safe and responsive services, research methods, and frameworks being utilised by non-Indigenous practitioners [ 26 ] and subsequently high rates of emergency department presentations [ 24 , 27 ]. In 2016, the Australian Psychological Society issued an apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for failing to uphold the right to equality and cultural recognition [ 25 ].…”