Project Overview:

The generosity of the Anika Foundation and the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health has allowed UWA to organise a cultural exchange to Canada for six Aboriginal Australian Youths. In Canada, they exchanged practices and knowledge about Indigenous suicide prevention and Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB). Over two weeks, the group learnt how the First Nations people of Canada use traditional healing and cultural practices to promote SEWB and prevent suicide. The group also shared their ways of preventing suicide and promoting SEWB – In various conversations and presentations. The First Nations People from both countries agreed that a strength-based approach focusing on life promotion is the best way to prevent suicide. This Report documents the project activities and outcomes of the cultural exchange. The Anika Cultural Exchange was organised by the Centre for Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) and the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing (TIMHWB) Research Project at the University of Western Australia.