A leading mental health expert has warned that Christmas is a difficult time for both young and old people in our communities who may struggle with the stresses of the holiday period.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 20 to 29 years have the highest suicide rate in the nation, with those aged 15 to 19 years also prone to severe depression and suicide during the Christmas period.
Indigenous Mental Health Commissioner and Bardi woman Professor Pat Dudgeon, said families and community leaders need to keep an eye on both the young and old during Christmas and over summer.
For Indigenous people, she says, cultural identity is the bedrock of who we are and our Elders are fundamental to this process. She says a community’s elders remain our wisdom-keepers and are a vital bridge between the modern world and Aboriginal culture.
