A new website has been set up to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's mental health, with information on social and emotional wellbeing, country, spirituality and homelessness.
The Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Clearinghouse will also house scientific research about connection to family and kinship, the criminal justice system, child protection, nutrition and mental health services.
This will help service providers develop culturally safe holistic programs about physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing for individuals and communities.
"Indigenous adults experience higher rates of psychological distress and suicide than other Australians," Indigenous health expert Fadwa Al-Yaman said on Wednesday.
"It's vital to improve the evidence base available on Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention."
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare portal was developed with Indigenous mental health experts and policymakers in response to the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
"Our communities continue to experience high rates of suicide," Bardi woman, psychologist and Indigenous suicide prevention expert Pat Dudgeon said.
"The Clearinghouse will contribute to an evidence base to ensure information that is current, safe, and relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is accessible."
The website will be updated every six months with quarterly updates to be considered as more content becomes available.
Australian Associated Press
