• Charles Sturt University researchers have published a study on the leading causes of depression and anxiety among First Nations people
• The study considered risk factors such as health risk behaviours, social and cultural characteristics and past adverse events among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• The study enables prioritised interventions with the greatest potential for reducing the burden of depression and anxiety

Charles Sturt University researchers have investigated the leading causes of depression and anxiety among First Nations people.

Senior Research Fellow of Rural Public Health (Epidemiologist) with the Charles Sturt Rural Health Research Institute (RHRI) Dr Subash Thapa led the research, titled ‘Population attributable fractions of depression and anxiety among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: a population-based study’.

“This is the first study to calculate the population attributable fractions for depression and anxiety attributed to potentially modifiable risk factors such as health risk behaviours, social and cultural characteristics and past adverse events, such as racism, and discrimination, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Dr Thapa said.

“In identifying the most important risk and resilience factors, we are able to prioritise interventions with the greatest potential for reducing the burden of depression and anxiety.”

Dr Thapa said the study was conducted using national data from 5,362 individuals across various locations, including major cities, regional, remote and very remote areas from all Australian states and territories, representing the diverse First Nations  communities of Australia.

“The study revealed that of those surveyed, circumstances such as lower personal income, severed access to First Nations knowledge and cultural affiliations, central obesity and daily smoking are associated with 45 per cent of depression cases among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.

“Of those surveyed, lower personal income, limited access to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, central obesity, severed access to First Nations knowledge and experiences of discrimination are associated with 39 per cent of anxiety cases.”

Restoring access to First Nations knowledge and cultural affiliation, along with increasing access to a healthy diet and active lifestyle, were identified as crucial elements of improving the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples surveyed, according to Dr Thapa.

“Upstream measures are essential for achieving meaningful change, including constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the enactment of anti-racist legislation to combat institutional racism, reforms in education to incorporate First Nations perspectives and improved economic opportunities through policies that support land rights and sovereignty,” he said.

This study was funded by a grant from the Commonwealth of Australia, represented by the Department of Health and Aged Care, and has been published in the scientific journal Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific.

Fellow researchers involved in the study include Professor Allen Ross, Dr Kedir Ahmed, Mr Santosh Giri, Dr Anayochukwu Anyasodor, Dr Mamun Huda, Dr Shakeel Mahmood, Mr Feleke Astawesegn, all from the RHRI. Also involved was CEO of the Regional Enterprise Development Institute Mr Peter Gibbs and CEO of the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service Mr Jamie Newman.