Ms Andersen's latest report, ‘Way Forward: Indigenous approach to wellbeing’ looks at how more mental health services need to be created for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.
Her message is clear. She told NITV: “I’d love to see more young Indigenous people see the positives of being Indigenous.
“In my work, we celebrate being Indigenous. So often the negatives are portrayed on us. We know that we have problems; Murris and TSI’s know this; but we need to expose our young people to the good that comes with being Indigenous, this can help their wellbeing,” Ms Andersen says.
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Ms Andresen believes mental health awareness is paramount. She advocates for communities and policy makers to develop a greater understanding of people with mental health issues.
“Most people struggle with mental health at some point in their lives. Some solutions are needed to help people in positive ways and help people to de-mystify the problems that are frequently seen with mental health.”
Her studies have shown that the public system needs to develop a new response to our Indigenous communities’ needs.
“Not just a clinical response, but the services that can respond to specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, things such as cultural forms of care,” Ms Andersen explains.
On world Mental Health day, Ms Andersen reminds us “we need people to invest in us and our communities to build resilience. We need to empower our young, to strengthen families and this is a multi-systems approach.
“Until we can provide and empower our communities, we will still see people leaving our communities with problems.”
