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Spirituality and Wellbeing

Welcome back, readers, to the fifth post of our captivating blog series! Today, we're embarking on a journey into the realm of workplace spirituality and its profound impact on our mental well-being amidst the chaos of modern work life.

Imagine this: deadlines looming, meetings piling up, and stress levels reaching astronomical heights. In the midst of this daily grind, how do we maintain our sanity and stride through the challenges with poise? Well, the answer might just lie in embracing spirituality or religion in our workplace routines.

Recent studies have illuminated the transformative effects of integrating religious or spiritual practices into our professional lives. Individuals who infuse their workdays with moments of mindfulness, prayer, or reflection often find themselves better equipped to navigate the demands of their jobs and the stresses of their lifestyles. It's like having a secret weapon against the onslaught of workplace pressures. (Koburtay et al., 2023 p.351)

But, alas, not all journeys are smooth sailing. In some nations, religious or spiritual individuals may encounter prejudice based on their beliefs, casting a shadow over their psychological well-being. This discrimination not only undermines their mental health but also threatens the inclusive fabric of our workplaces.

Amidst this backdrop, the significance of spirituality and religion in fostering happiness and well-being cannot be overstated. However, despite the increasing focus on these topics, the mechanisms underlying their importance remain shrouded in mystery. It's as if we're unraveling the secrets of the universe - a fascinating yet elusive pursuit.

Now, let's turn our attention to the vibrant tapestry of Aboriginal communities in Australia. These communities are woven with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, each thread contributing to the rich fabric of their heritage. (Wong, 2023 p.17) It is imperative that we safeguard these beliefs and traditions, ensuring they are respected and preserved to uphold the proper lifestyle and livelihood of those within the Aboriginal community.

As we navigate the intricate dance of our professional lives, let us strive to cultivate an environment where spirituality and diversity are celebrated, not just tolerated. Let us embrace moments of reflection, prayer, and mindfulness as pillars of resilience in the face of adversity.

Moreover, it is known that spiritual practices link a person with all deeds and works that they carry out in their daily life. Therefore, practising religious activity and spirituality not only allows an individual to enhance their beliefs but also allows people to build a strong mental connection and peace within themself. Spirituality is directly linked to the well-being of an individual since it allows the individual to be calm and handle tough situations with care (Wnuk, 2023, p.973). In the case of the Aboriginal community of Australia, there are different problems such as low income, family struggle, struggle for economic conditions and deprivations, in such a scenario, practicing spirituality leads the individuals to gain a different insight into life and deal with better approaches. Moreover, it is with the help of spirituality, that most care workers and care providers can treat patients. 

There are treatment centres which offer spiritual help to those in need and the main motive of these treatments is related to developing a co-ordination between mind and body which heals a person from the inside. The practising of spirituality allows individuals to maintain proper balance with body and mind which helps them to make proper decisions and enhances mental wellbeing (Preston, Coleman III & Shin, 2023, p.44). Moreover, spirituality allows the Aboriginals to collaboratively work with others in the workplace and also lead a stress-free life through rational thinking and good mind-body cooperation. Science's spirituality is a reflection of the profoundly good transcendent experiences such as awe, purpose, and connection that come from working with science (Howard et al., 2023, p.185). It is not everyone experiences spirituality through science, those who do stand to gain a great deal. Better science learning and performance are among the immediate advantages of science involvement. Spirituality is a component that may be associated with favourable results in recent years (Howard et al., 2023, p.185). Even though spirituality, faith, and religiosity are separate academic notions, several scholars contend that the ideas themselves are related. One significant component that is generally linked to resilience in the face of hardship is spirituality. Nonetheless, there hasn't been much research done to date that particularly looks at spirituality about the results of adult care experiences.

References

Howard, A. H., Roberts, M., Mitchell, T., & Wilke, N. G. (2023). The relationship between spirituality and resilience and well-being: A study of 529 care leavers from 11 nations. Adversity and Resilience Science, 4(2), 177-190. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42844-023-00088-y

Koburtay, T., Jamali, D., & Aljafari, A. (2023). Religion, spirituality, and well‐being: A systematic literature review and futuristic agenda. Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, 32(1), 341-357. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/beer.12478

Preston, J. L., Coleman III, T. J., & Shin, F. (2023). Spirituality of Science: Implications for Meaning, Well-Being, and Learning. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 01461672231191356. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/01461672231191356

Wnuk, M. (2023). The indirect relationship between spiritual experiences and subjective wellbeing through hope? A sample of Chilean students. Journal of religion and health, 62(2), 964-983. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10943-021-01459-4

Wong, P. T. (2023). Spiritual-existential wellbeing (SEW): The faith-hope-love model of mental health and total wellbeing. International Journal of Existential Positive Psychology, 12(1), 1-25. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul-Wong-8/publication/369879042_Spiritual-Existential_Wellbeing_SEW_The_Faith-Hope-Love_Model_of_Mental_Health_Total_Wellbeing/links/643034e6ad9b6d17dc3f3e01/Spiritual-Existential-Wellbeing-SEW-The-Faith-Hope-Love-Model-of-Mental-Health-Total-Wellbeing.pdf

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Stress Reduction for Wellbeing and Resilience

Welcome back to our ongoing well-being series, where we dive into the intricacies of mental health and lifestyle challenges. Today, we're zooming in on Australia, a country renowned for its beauty and diversity, but also grappling with the universal issue of stress.

Stress, the silent intruder of peace and well-being, knows no boundaries in Australia. Whether indigenous or non-indigenous, individuals from all walks of life find themselves entangled in its web, leading to sleepless nights, mental anguish, and even panic attacks. As Novak & Lev-Ari (2023) eloquently put it, the burden of stress manifests itself in the form of multiple sclerosis (MS) among students and professionals, a condition exacerbated by sleep deprivation—a direct consequence of stress and relentless study or career pressures.

But let's not overlook our young adults, often dismissed as the picture of health. Contrary to popular belief, this age group, spanning from 18 to 26, navigates a tumultuous period marked by risky behaviors, psychological vulnerabilities, and unhealthy habits, as noted by (Hartson et al.,2023).

Recognizing the urgency of this matter, the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council sounded the alarm in 2015. Their call to action highlighted a glaring gap in research focusing on young people, stressing the imperative to address the unique challenges jeopardizing their well-being in the modern era.

So, what exactly constitutes well-being? It's more than just physical health—it encompasses the delicate balance of mental, physical, and social facets, intertwined with the pursuit of happiness and fulfilment in life.

It has been demonstrated that the use of mind-body therapies is essential for fostering resilience to long-term stress. A variety of techniques known as mind-body interventions cause the body to go into a condition known as the "relaxation response," which is characterized by decreased sympathetic tone, increased parasympathetic tone, and decreased blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate at rest (Li & Lange, 2023, p.9240). Studies on the psychological concept of mindfulness, which originates from the Buddhist tradition, have found that rumination is reduced in those who participate in mindfulness-based programs that teach people how to develop mindfulness and apply it in their daily lives. Self-regulation of attention and adopting a specific perspective on one's experiences are the two parts of mindfulness. The two main, fundamental components of mindfulness that are now recognized are awareness and the nonjudgmental acceptance of one's experience at the moment (Cepeda-Lopez et al., 2023, p.848637). The role of mindfulness techniques in improving psychological well-being and decreasing reactivity to emotional stimuli may be explained by the way they encourage disengagement from laborious cognitive tasks and improve attentional skills through improvements in working memory. These cognitive improvements then support the development of adaptive and flexible emotion-regulation techniques as well as the ability to deal with negative thoughts and feelings.

Thus, the interventions are a step towards building proper resilience and well-being among the aboriginal communities which would allow them to lead a healthy life. Moreover, leading a stress-free life is the key to a reduction in other diseases as most of the diseases are associated with stress and trauma (Bagereka et al., 2023, p.133). The stress factor is a major part of life that is faced by every human being and this needs to be reduced to have a social and healthy lifestyle. The suitability of the provided interventions can be considered to bring good results in the coming days for the Aboriginal community residing in Australia.

References

Bagereka, P., Ameli, R., Sinaii, N., Vocci, M. C., & Berger, A. (2023). Psychosocial-spiritual well-being is related to resilience and mindfulness in patients with severe and/or life-limiting medical illnesses. BMC palliative care, 22(1), 133. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12904-023-01258-6

Cepeda-Lopez, A. C., Solís Domínguez, L., Villarreal Zambrano, S., Garza-Rodriguez, I. Y., Del Valle, A. C., & Quiroga-Garza, A. (2023). A comparative study of well-being, resilience, mindfulness, negative emotions, stress, and burnout among nurses after an online mind–body based intervention during the first COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 848637. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.848637/full

Hartson, K. R., Hall, L. A., & Choate, S. A. (2023). Stressors and resilience are associated with well-being in young adult college students. Journal of American College Health, 71(3), 821-829. https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1900&context=faculty

Li, L., & Lange, K. W. (2023). Assessing the relationship between urban blue-green infrastructure and stress resilience in real settings: a systematic review. Sustainability, 15(12), 9240. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9240

Novak, A. M., & Lev-Ari, S. (2023). Resilience, stress, well-being, and sleep quality in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(2), 716. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/2/716

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Nutrition and Wellbeing

Welcome, fellow health enthusiasts! As someone deeply rooted in the field of Nutrition, having pursued both a Bachelor's of Science in Foods and Nutrition and a Master's of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, I can't emphasize enough the pivotal role that nutrition plays in shaping our well-being. For me, nutrition isn't just a profession; it's a passion—a belief that what we consume has the power to heal us from the inside out, especially when combined with mental wellness.

Now, let's delve into a topic close to my heart: the intricate relationship between nutrition and the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We know that heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease are just a few of the prevalent nutrition-related illnesses plaguing these populations. But what factors contribute to this alarming trend?

Researchers like Roy et al. (2023) shed light on the multifaceted nature of diet-related disorders, where various behavioral, biological, social, inherited, and environmental factors intertwine to create health challenges. In Indigenous communities, socioeconomic status and other diet-related risk factors such as insulin resistance, obesity, and hypertension are particularly pertinent (Shinde et al., 2023).

The silver lining? Many of these chronic illnesses can be prevented or delayed through a nutritious and well-balanced diet. However, the sad reality is that many Indigenous Australians face barriers to accessing affordable and nutritious food, a phenomenon known as food insecurity (Christian et al., 2023). This lack of access can lead to obesity and malnutrition, further exacerbating health issues.

One of the major hurdles contributing to food insecurity is the poor availability and access to nutritious food, often exacerbated by low income and remote living conditions (Christian et al., 2023). Data from indigenoushpf.gov.au (2024) paints a stark picture, with only 69% of Indigenous children meeting guidelines for regular fruit intake and a mere 3.2% meeting guidelines for regular vegetable consumption. Additionally, there's concerning evidence of high consumption of soft drinks and flavored waters among Indigenous children, as depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Key Facts about nutrition levels in Aboriginal children

(Source: indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024)

The well-being of children among indigenous groups and communities of Australia calls for specific interventions and guidelines which are useful for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is noted that NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) provides a set up of specific guidelines for children of the Aboriginal Australian community to follow a dietary plan which is beneficial for their health. Figure 2 below shows that the interventions and dietary guidelines which are set by NHMRC are effective since they allow about 85% of fruit intake for 2-4 years of children and 42% of fruit intake for 15-17 years of children (indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024). Therefore, this particular intervention allows children of this particular community to follow a good food intake plan and lead a better life. However, in the words of Chen, Debono & Hemsley (2023, p.20), the cost of fruits and vegetables is much higher as compared to other junk foods. Because there are low-income groups people, some of the people from indigenous communities can't keep a regular intake of fruits and vegetables in their diet plan. This is one of the main problems which leads to a gap in nutritional food intake by children as well as adults and older people.

Figure 2: Guidelines and adequate amount of intake of food and vegetables

(Source: indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024)

Thus, nutritional aspects are very important for indigenous people living in Australia. It helps maintain a proper lifestyle among the Aboriginal community and also allows the people to stay disease-free. Well-being interventions are very important not only for indigenous people but also for non-indigenous people owing to the lifestyle that is being led by people.

Reference for Blog 3

Chen, L., Debono, D., & Hemsley, B. (2023). A bite closer: Using 3D food printing to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, 9 and 17. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 25(1), 58-61. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17549507.2022.2132290

Christian, A. K., Atiglo, D. Y., Okyere, M. A., Obeng‐Dwamena, A., Marquis, G. S., & Jones, A. D. (2023). Women's empowerment, children's nutritional status, and the mediating role of household headship structure: Evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 19(3), e13520. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/mcn.13520

indigenoushpf.gov.au (2024) Dietary behaviour Retrieved on 9 May 2024 from:https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/2-19-dietary-behaviour#:~:text=For%20Indigenous%20Australians%2C%20the%20higher,lead%20to%20obesity%20and%20malnutrition.

Roy, A. S., Mazaniello-Chézol, M., Rueda-Martinez, M., Shafique, S., & Adams, A. M. (2023). Food systems determinants of nutritional health and wellbeing in urban informal settlements: A scoping review in LMICs. Social Science & Medicine, 322, 115-804. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953623001612

Shinde, S., Noor, R. A., Mwanyika‐Sando, M., Moshabela, M., Tadesse, A. W., Sherfi, H., ... & Fawzi, W. W. (2023). Adolescent health and well‐being in sub‐Saharan Africa: Strengthening knowledge base and research capacity through a collaborative multi‐country school‐based study. Maternal & Child Nutrition, e13411. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/mcn.13411

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Aging and Wellbeing

Welcome back to my blog series! Today, I will delve deeper into the intricate relationship between aging and health, particularly focusing on the unique challenges faced by Aboriginal Australians.

As we age, our bodies undergo various transformations, both physically and mentally. While aging is a natural part of life, it often comes with its share of health concerns. From chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes to heart and lung conditions, older adults frequently find themselves navigating through a maze of health issues that can significantly impact their well-being.

In a poignant study by Holly et al. (2023), alarming rates of chronic diseases were observed among Aboriginal Australians. These communities, marked by their rich cultural heritage, are unfortunately grappling with disproportionately high rates of conditions like type 2 diabetes and dementia—a mental sickness that poses unique challenges for both individuals and their caregivers.

Well-being for the indigenous group matters a lot as aging people of the indigenous group need utmost care and nurture in their older days of life. Finding more effective ways for Aboriginal communities to receive the health care they require. It makes recommendations for improvements to services aimed at enhancing Aboriginal health, particularly in older populations (Riitsalu et al., 2024, p.68).

Indigenous communities have longer life expectancies, which is reflected in the rise in the proportion of older persons with age-related syndromes and chronic health disorders. Indigenous peoples' aging health and well-being may be enhanced if certain modified lifestyle factors are addressed, as many of these illnesses are linked to them. A deeper comprehension of what aging well means for Indigenous people is necessary if models of healthy aging are to be promoted within health systems. Indigenous peoples see aging and health holistically, which perhaps sets them apart from Western conceptions.

Figure 1 below shows the rate of fatal and non-fatal diseases which are faced by the aging group of population among an indigenous group of people (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2022). It is evident from the graph that the increasing rate of diseases among older people in this community risks the healthy living and well-being of the people. Therefore, it is mandatory to bring up certain interventions which would be efficient and effective for the better livelihood of older people. The most popular intervention which is found to be used is care homes which treat dementia patients with utmost care and attention (Coffey et al., 2023, p.21959). It is in these care homes that there are different policies and protocols are maintaining which are best suitable for mentally retarded or sick people.

Figure 3: Rate of fatal and non-fatal diseases

(Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2022)

Little is currently known regarding the design and implementation processes of health promotion interventions that support healthy ageing for older Indigenous adults (OIA) (High et al., 2023, p.448). Reducing health inequities and supporting healthy aging across the lifespan are priorities for doctors, academics, healthcare providers, community stakeholders, and rehabilitation professionals. The timing is now right for us to actively involve Indigenous communities in general and OIA in particular in the planning, carrying out, and involvement of intergenerational health promotion initiatives.

Reference

Coffey, J. K., Nelson-Coffey, S. K., Parsley, H., & Pluess, M. (2023). Positive emotion expression at age 11 is associated with multiple well-being outcomes 39 years later. Current Psychology, 42(25), 21954-21966. http://www.johnkcoffey.com/uploads/1/9/0/6/19063163/coffey_nelson_coffey_et_al_2022_ncds.pdf

High, A. C., Ruppel, E. K., McEwan, B., & Caughlin, J. P. (2023). Computer-mediated communication and well-being in the age of social media: A systematic review. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(2), 420-458.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/02654075221106449

Holly, L., Wong, B. L. H., van Kessel, R., Awah, I., Agrawal, A., & Ndili, N. (2023). Optimising adolescent wellbeing in a digital age. bmj, 380. https://www.bmj.com/content/380/BMJ-2021-068279.full

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (2022) Aging Well for Indigenous Peoples: A Scoping Review Retrieved on 9 May 2024 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8866315/

Riitsalu, L., Sulg, R., Lindal, H., Remmik, M., & Vain, K. (2024). From security to Freedom—The meaning of Financial Well-being changes with age. Journal of family and economic issues, 45(1), 56-69. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10834-023-09886-z

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Nurturing the Heart: Understanding the Social and Emotional Well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

Welcome to my Blog series on PSYCHOLOGY, WELL-BEING, AND RESILIENCE Where I will highlight 5 interesting topics. Read to explore!

In the rich tapestry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the essence of well-being lies in the social and emotional interconnectedness. As highlighted by the Commonwealth of Australia in 2017, this delicate balance serves as the cornerstone upon which both physical and mental health are built.

It's important to recognize that the concept of social and emotional well-being transcends individual experiences, encompassing a web of relationships that extend from the individual to the family and community. As noted by Brown et al. (2023), the nuances of well-being vary across Indigenous communities, shaped by diverse cultural perspectives and historical contexts. The notion of social and emotional well-being acknowledges that a person's well-being is also impacted by the social determinants of health. Indigenous Australians define health as the "social, emotional, and cultural well-being of the whole community" in addition to an individual's physical well-being (Fatima et al., 2023, p.31). This definition is based on a person's relationships to their country, culture, family, spirit, and physical and mental health.

Additionally, the National Agreement acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are essential to better life outcomes for Indigenous Australians. All initiatives carried out by the Agreement must uphold, protect, and enhance these cultures. The following goals have been specifically set by the agreement to promote the cultural wellness of Indigenous Australians as shown in Figure 1 below (indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024).

Figure 1: Targets to support cultural well-being

(Source: indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024)

This particular group is marked with suicides and attempts to death based on different stress in life and stress factors. In the words of Smallwood et al., (2023, p.2088), the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders had been facing severe issues over time in search of good living and livelihood. Owing to this there had been intervention which was developed for the betterment of indigenous people living in Australia. Figure 2 below shows the rate of suicide attempts which had been caused by the people of this indigenous group (indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024). Thus, the intervention of the Mental Health Agreement was formulated to secure sustainability and improve the services provided by the Australian mental health and suicide prevention system. It also aimed to improve the mental health of all Australians and governments have come together to establish the Mental Health Agreement (Masotti et al., 2023, p.741).

Figure 2: Suicide attempts by Aboriginals

(Source: indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024)

In addition to responding to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health, the National Suicide Prevention Adviser's Final Advice, the Mental Health Agreement pledges to carry out work under the Fifth Plan going forward (indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024). Regional planning and commissioning, priority populations, stigma reduction, safety and quality, gaps in the system of care and suicide prevention are the main areas of attention. On the other hand, psycho-social supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), workforce, and national consistency for initial assessment and referral are among the priority areas covered by the Mental Health Agreement.

References

Brown, A., Haregu, T., Gee, G., Mensah, F., Waters, L., Brown, S. J., ... & Armstrong, G. (2023). Social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Aboriginal-controlled social housing. BMC public health, 23(1), 1935. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-023-16817-y

Fatima, Y., Liu, Y., Cleary, A., Dean, J., Smith, V., King, S., & Solomon, S. (2023). Connecting the health of country with the health of people: application of" caring for country" in improving the social and emotional well-being of Indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 31. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(22)00263-2/fulltext

indigenoushpf.gov.au (2024) Social and emotional wellbeing Retrived on 9 May 2024 from: https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/1-18-social-emotional-wellbeing

Masotti, P., Dennem, J., Bañuelos, K., Seneca, C., Valerio-Leonce, G., Inong, C. T., & King, J. (2023). The Culture is Prevention Project: measuring cultural connectedness and providing evidence that culture is a social determinant of health for Native Americans. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 741. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-023-15587-x

Smallwood, R., Usher, K., Woods, C., Sampson, N., & Jackson, D. (2023). De‐problematising Aboriginal young peoples’ health and well‐being through their voice: An Indigenous scoping review. Journal of clinical nursing, 32(9-10), 2086-2101. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocn.16308