"Why has this patient presented in this manner at this time in the context of his or her life?"

Abstract

As a future public health professional working with Indigenous Australian communities and individuals, reflection on this question is certainly valuable; however, within cohesive Indigenous populations, it may be essential to extend this question to a consideration of an Indigenous family, or indeed a community. In working within Indigenous communities, a vast variety of emotions will of course be encountered. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the context of emotional experiences and health in Indigenous communities, it would be beneficial to consider differing perspectives regarding emotion, of cultural anthropology, psychology, existential psychiatry, and indeed neurobiology. Consideration of an Indigenous individual's emotional perception, experience and expression from the viewpoints of these respective disciplines, may indeed enable increased insight and understanding; thus effective public health practice, and improved health outcomes in Indigenous Australian communities.