This chapter introduces First Nations approaches to health care that have relevance for the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand contexts. It examines the historical influences that impacted the health and well-being of First Nations in these countries and considers the need for adopting First Nations approaches to health care practice such as cultural safety, cultural responsiveness and other cultural frameworks. Several of the principles for practice are transferrable to international First Nations communities as well as culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

This chapter introduces students in the health professions to a new and developing area of mental health practice: e-mental health. It describes a range of digital interventions and explores how digital and mobile technologies are providing additional avenues for helping people with mental health problems in densely populated and hard-to-reach communities. It is important for practitioners to acquire and develop proficient digital literacy skills in the e-mental health service sector. Some types of digital and mobile interventions are considered, along with some of the benefits and limitations that relate to e-mental health in general. As emerging health care professionals, students increasingly will be expected to utilise e-health interventions and strategies in the delivery of health care. The chapter introduces the e-mental health environment in general, and helps students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to implement person-centred e-mental health care to individuals and populations.

This chapter begins with an overview of the rural and regional clinical context, and explores the connections that rural mental health practitioners have within rural communities. Models of mental health promotion and service delivery are discussed. The nature of life in rural settings and the ways in which climate and geographical location affect the mental health of people are also considered in the context of mental health resilience and vulnerability. Attention is given to the effects of natural disasters, agribusiness, mining, the itinerant rural workforce and under-employment, and the associated mental health consequences. This chapter discusses some rural community benefits in regard to mental health promotion, such as a deeply felt sense of close social proximity despite significant geographical distances between rural people. After reading this chapter, students will be able to reflect on, and critically think about, the ways in which mental health promotion, well-being and recovery can be enhanced among rural populations.

This chapter introduces the intersections between mental health care and drug and alcohol care. It addresses the implications for holistic health care needs related to dual drug and alcohol use, and concurrent mental health conditions. It tells the contemporary, real-life story of a person who developed an episode of psychosis following consumption of premixed alcohol and caffeine drinks. The chapter also describes change models applied to substance use and recovery, such as motivational interviewing and stages of change readiness. Both common and less common drugs and their misuse affect the physical, social, cognitive and mental health dimensions of people with mental health conditions. Reflective exercises guide readers to consider how they will be able to promote mental health and well-being and minimise drug-related harm to individuals and communities in a practice context.

This chapter begins with an overview of the rural and regional clinical context, and explores the connections that rural mental health practitioners have within rural communities. Models of mental health promotion and service delivery are discussed. The nature of life in rural settings and the ways in which climate and geographical location affect the mental health of people are also considered in the context of mental health resilience and vulnerability. Attention is given to the effects of natural disasters, agribusiness, mining, the itinerant rural workforce and under-employment, and the associated mental health consequences. This chapter discusses some rural community benefits in regard to mental health promotion, such as a deeply felt sense of close social proximity despite significant geographical distances between rural people. After reading this chapter, students will be able to reflect on, and critically think about, the ways in which mental health promotion, well-being and recovery can be enhanced among rural populations.

Generally, a mainstream understanding of health is applied when mental health (illness) presentations are considered, assessed, and treated using a biomedical Western perspective and standpoint (Wilson & Waqanaviti 2021). This chapter explores mental health through an alternative First Nations lens, that of social and emotional well-being (SEWB). While there is a scarcity of national data that specifically measure the social and emotional well-being of First Nations people, data that are available paint a consistent picture: one of much higher rates of use of mental health services by First Nations people, compared to other Australians (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2009).This chapter sets the context for further discussion regarding First Nations people and explores issues relating to social and emotional well-being and mental health. Colonisation and its history are discussed, as well as the subsequent decimation/devastation that followed and continues today. The resilience and struggle that has taken place, along with cultural recognition and renewal, ultimately shapes the present.

This chapter introduces the intersections between mental health care and drug and alcohol care. It addresses the implications for holistic health care needs related to dual drug and alcohol use, and concurrent mental health conditions. It tells the contemporary, real-life story of a person who developed an episode of psychosis following consumption of premixed alcohol and caffeine drinks. The chapter also describes change models applied to substance use and recovery, such as motivational interviewing and stages of change readiness. Both common and less common drugs and their misuse affect the physical, social, cognitive and mental health dimensions of people with mental health conditions. Reflective exercises guide readers to consider how they will be able to promote mental health and well-being and minimise drug-related harm to individuals and communities in a practice context.