The University of Queensland and Beyond Blue have partnered to deliver culturally responsive sleep health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents in Queensland.

Project lead Associate Professor Yaqoot Fatima from UQ’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Health said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents experience disproportionately high rates of poor sleep – as much as twice as high as other young people.

Improving sleep amongst young people means they will turn out to be more engaged at school, sport, cultural and community activities.

Poor sleep may be attributable to medical conditions like sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome, home environments or behavioral issues similar to an irregular bedtime.

Our previous studies have shown that young Indigenous people sleep higher after they feel connected to their culture which is why this program is vital.”

Dr.Yaqoot Fatima, UQ’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Health

A ten-week Sleep for Strong Souls program will connect with a couple of hundred 12 to 18-year-olds through workshops in north and western Queensland communities.

The UQ-led program promotes and reinforces healthy sleep behaviours by integrating traditional and western knowledges and was successfully piloted in Mt Isa last 12 months.

Beyond Blue Board Director and psychiatrist Dr Jason Lee has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within the gulf region.

“We’d like to higher understand the cultural influences that impact social and emtional wellbeing, and drawing on communities’ knowledge helps create stronger support services,” Dr Lee said.

“It is also necessary to take a look at the links between poor sleep and wellbeing in children, given many mental health issues originate in childhood.”

Proud Waanyi Garawa Gangalida woman, Karen Chong grew up with a day by day routine that meant sleep was not a difficulty until cable TV and the web got here to her distant community.

“We are usually not sleeping like we used to, and I knew that something needed to be done that might be helpful to my family and community because sleep is vital to our culture,” Ms Chong said.

Ms Chong accomplished her training as an Indigenous sleep coach under the pilot program and is working towards becoming a sleep technician to assist her people train a recent generation of sleep coaches.

“We’re the People of the Dreamtime with the oldest continuing culture shaped by dreams, which is why I became a sleep coach and need to coach others,” Ms Chong said.

The Sleep for Strong Souls project received $783,000 from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), $185,000 from Beyond Blue, and is supported by Queensland Kid’s Hospital and Health Service, Ngak Min Health, Mithangkaya Nguli – Young People Ahead Youth and Community Services Indigenous Corporation, and the Sleep Health Foundation.

Source:

The University of Queensland