The Struggle for Systematic 'Adulthood' for Aboriginal Mental Health in the Mainstream: The Djirruwang Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Program

The title of this paper refers to issues of growth, development and maturity in Aboriginal Mental Health as it emerges as a specialised profession in the mainstream mental health system. The paper raises many challenges to the existing mental health structures. It asks a number of key questions regarding the professional status of Aboriginal Mental Health Professionals operating in the mainstream mental health industry. The paper describes the approach the Djirruwang Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Program is taking to ensure that its students graduate with all the necessary skills, attitudes, knowledge and values to be effective professionals in their own right. It highlights the collaboration required by the mental health industry to ensure that the entire mental health workforce and the services in which they operate create a supportive environment for the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health workforce. Finally it seeks the support of the mental health industry and professional organisations to move towards systematic adulthood with respect to 1) the professional recognition of students and graduates of the program, and 2) the need for professional organisations, and service management and staff to take responsibility in their responses to Aboriginal mental health issues. The need to effectively deal with the above workforce issues is based on the evidence that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffer from higher levels of emotional distress and possible mental illness than that of the wider community. Suicide and self-harm rates are also considerably higher in comparison to that of the broader population (AIHW, 2001). Surely, if there is a higher level of identified need there must also be a higher level of orchestrated effort required.