Modern and ancient divide

THE issue of young first nation people being torn between modern western influences and an identity that draws on ancient indigenous culture will be addressed at a series of talks aimed at improving youth mental health.

Medical experts, community leaders, young people and researchers will attend the “Research in the Round: Improving youth mental health” conference hosted by the Queensland Family and Child Commission in Cairns today.

Co-founder of the Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good group Semara Jose said the clash of two opposing cultures was a factor in nearly 5000 young indigenous Queenslanders being homeless at the 2016 census.

“They are torn between these two worlds of ‘who I am as an Aboriginal person?’ and ‘who I am as a modern young person?’” she said.

“‘I live in a modern world but at the same time I have to be able to be true to who I am and where I come from.’ Those things clash so frequently and that internal struggle will happen for every indigenous young person.”

Queensland Family and Child Commission principal commissioner Cheryl Vardon said the focus of the conference would be finding better solutions for young people.

“We know that almost half of all lifetime mental health problems start before a child is 14 years old, and almost 75 per cent before (they are) 25 years old,” she said.

“It’s important we look beyond health interventions to understand the reasons why so many young people are struggling with their mental health.”

Recent Census data has showed 4454 young people aged between 12 and 24 are sleeping rough, staying in refuges or couch-surfing.

Ms Jose will draw on her experience of working with young people involved with DIYDG programs when fielding questions as a panel member at the event.

“We are really trying to push this idea that young people need to be at the forefront of decision-making and actual delivery of teaching health and wellbeing,” she said.

“I have been able to work with so many kinds of young people; everything comes back to health and wellbeing.”

A second, more intimate event tomorrow called “the Regional Roundtable: Preventing youth homelessness” will be attended by the Queensland Police Service, judges and heads of community organisations.

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