Authors:
Walker R, Easton C, Scrine C.
Authors notes:
Telethon Kids Institute & University of Western Australia, 2015.
Keywords:
Risk factors, suicidal behaviour, Indigenous, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, Fact Sheet
Abstract:
While the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (herein Indigenous) are travelling on track or exceeding across all developmental domains, there is also evidence that rates of poor mental health in Indigenous children is increasing and from a very young age.
A range of biological, social and psychological factors and the cumulative impact of life stressors influence children's poor mental health and levels of toxic stress.
The burden of mental health problems and stress faced by Indigenous children is a major public health problem in Australia and is a contributing factor to high rates of intentional self-harm.