Historical Study on the Health Benefits of the Relationship Between Indigenous Peoples and the Country | Australia news

The health benefits of identity, culture and land connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders must be measured in a study that will begin on Thursday and follow them for up to a year. At age 50.

A research team from the Australian National University spent four and a half years, including two and a half years of consultation with dozens of indigenous communities, to determine how to measure these beliefs as statistically as possible. anecdotal history.

People of the Torres Strait Islanders, this concept is intuitive, "said Professor Ray Lovett, head of the study. "We know that if we maintain a connection with our country, our languages, strong family networks and kinship, it is good for us, but we need data."

Starting Thursday, 20 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders A copy of the survey will be mailed to the community and another 180,000 will be sent by the end of January.

All Aboriginal peoples over the age of 16 who are registered with Medicare will receive a copy or will be eligible to complete it online.

Known as Mayi Kuwayu (from the Ngiyampaa-Wongaibon language, meaning to follow people in time), the study will track respondents for a period of up to 50 years.

Lovett said that pilot studies conducted in Victoria and central Australia had already shown improved links with the country has significantly improved the mental health of its indigenous participants. "These two studies show the same thing in two totally different areas," he said.

The survey also seeks to measure the impact of racism, discrimination and past forced removal policies on the physical and mental health of Aboriginal peoples.

"It's a personal question for me, this question," Lovett said. "Growing up, my grandmother belonged to the stolen generations and this legacy lasted until my mother's generation."

"In my own family, I felt constantly concerned about being monitored, be under surveillance.

"We are subject to a constant level of stress due to subtle or overt racism, and this level of distress is a reality for many Aboriginal families. The intergenerational effects are profound.

"People confuse indigeneity with poor health and poor results. Much of our study looks at how, when people are connected to culture, they are better off, and how these things matter and should be part of our national health policy. "

The survey will be launched at the annual conference of the National Aboriginal Health Organization controlled by the indigenous community, the supreme body representing indigenous health agencies

The conference will also hear from alarming figures from the National Heart Foundation showing Aboriginal people die from heart disease twice as fast as Australians

Aboriginal women in the Northern Territory are hospitalized six times more often for heart problems than women other Australians

"If people live in the same area, the same level of access to services, then we must ask ourselves the following question: why are the health outcomes so different?" said Jane Potter, the foundation's health equity officer,

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders had historical mistrust of traditional health services, but there were wider problems.

"We know that 24% of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders over the age of 15 reported that we ran out of food in the last 12 months," said Corey Turner, Mobilization Manager for Aboriginal issues of the foundation. "In remote areas, this represents up to 36%.

" It's hard to prioritize your health while there are many other difficulties. "