High stress burden takes toll on Aboriginal children
A landmark new report on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children has found that nearly a quarter (24%) of Aboriginal children are at high risk of clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties. This compares with an equivalent figure of 15 % in the general population.
The data form part of the second volume of findings of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) which focuses on the Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Children and Young People.
The survey, by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, is the most comprehensive undertaken of Aboriginal children and has detailed the complexity of factors that contribute to significantly higher rates of social and emotional difficulties experienced by Aboriginal children compared with other Australian children.
WAACHS Steering Committee Chairman, Associate Professor Ted Wilkes, said while the findings were not unexpected, they were heart-breaking.
"What this report quantifies is the level of suffering faced by too many Aboriginal children and young people - a burden that affects their long term social and emotional development," he said.
"For most children, one major life stress event such as a death in the family, serious illness, family breakdown, financial problems or arrest would be overwhelming. The survey found that over two-thirds (70%) of Aboriginal children were living in families which had experienced 3 or more such life stress events.
"Of particular concern was the fact that 22% of Aboriginal children had experienced seven or more of these serious events in the past 12 months - a stress burden that is almost unbearable."
These 22% of Aboriginal children were five and a half times more likely to be at high risk of clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties than children living in families where 2 or less life stress events had occurred.
Report co-author Professor Sven Silburn said the findings are of great concern given the evidence on the cumulative impact of chronic stress on young children.
"Chronic stress exposures affect the development of a child's nervous, endocrine and immune systems. It places them at increased risk as adults of having complex chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and mental health problems. Internationally, it is now recognised that policy and interventions to improve the conditions of early childhood development provide some of the best opportunities for overcoming Aboriginal disadvantage in the longer term" Professor Silburn said.
"The stress levels experienced by Aboriginal children and families are a reflection of their economic and social disadvantage, their comparatively poor health and how these factors impact on family and community functioning.
"It's clear that urgent action is needed to buffer children from the effects of these stresses as well as longer-term measures to reduce their underlying causes if we are to begin to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children."
The report also found that:
25% were living in families with poor quality parenting. These children were almost four times as likely to be at high risk of clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties than Aboriginal children living in families with very good quality of parenting.
34% were in the care of a sole parent. These children were twice as likely to be at high risk of clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties than children cared for by both original parents.
Of Aboriginal young people aged between 12 - 17 years:
35% have smoked regularly
27% drink alcohol compared with 18% of non-Aboriginal teenagers. However, Aboriginal teens are twice as likely to have been very drunk (i.e. to the point of vomiting) at some time during the past 6 months.
30% had used marijuana
19% had been in a car with a drunk driver in the 6 months prior to the survey
16% had seriously thought about ending their own life in the 12 months prior to the survey
The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey was made possible by funding from Healthway, Lotterywest, Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation and the Australian* and State** Governments.
The survey was conducted over three years and involved more than 5000 Aboriginal children and their families. Five volumes of findings will be released.
Assoc Prof Wilkes said the survey project has been driven by Aboriginal people and that Aboriginal communities will play a direct role in determining how the results are used to improve outcomes for children.
"The statistics are confronting, but must not be ignored. This report gives us solid evidence about what's happening to our young people that we can now use to lobby for the support and services that our communities so desperately need. These data will assist the joint planning and partnerships between communities and all levels of government to address community identified concerns."
"What gives us hope is the proven resilience of Aboriginal children - the fact that so many of our kids have actually overcome extreme disadvantage to live constructive lives. Understanding how they achieved these good outcomes will guide us in helping more individuals and families have better outcomes."
"This report shows us the most effective areas for action - I believe we can really make a difference."
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