Many Indigenous people live their lives whilst suffering from mental health problems and Indigenous people are at a higher risk of developing a mental disorder than other Australians.

Whilst Menzies is looking for ways to improve mental health we are also looking at mental health prevention by examining the tools which a person or community needs and ways for people and communities to stay socially, spiritually, emotionally and mentally strong.

Research has shown that Indigenous people go to hospital for help with mental disorders linked with alcohol, kava, petrol and marijuana use. Indigenous people die from mental disorders linked with substance misuse at more than 11 times the rate of non-Indigenous people.

At Menzies we are striving to communicate 'two-way' mental health messages and to discover ways to overcome barriers caused by language and literacy.

Menzies’ Healing and Resilience Division tackles these challenges by empowering Indigenous people to make them strong in mind and body.

Our researchers give people the tools to recognize and overcome the problems causing mental illness, such as social, work and family stress.

To find out more about our Healing and Resilience research areas please click on the research area links at left.