Question

A 50-year-old man with no past psychiatric history presents with a 6-month history of low mood, poor sleep and loss of interest. He is a member of a First Nations community and reports that his distress is linked to housing insecurity and historical trauma. According to culturally safe mental health practice, what is the most appropriate approach?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the impact of historical and ongoing trauma, explore his priorities and offer to involve Indigenous mental health or Elders with his consent

Answer

Focus solely on prescribing an antidepressant without exploring social context

Answer

Tell him that mental illness is purely biological and unrelated to past experiences

Answer

Avoid discussing colonisation to prevent "politicising" the consultation

Answer

Refer him only to mainstream urban psychiatric services without community input

Practice question