What is social and emotional wellbeing

Social and emotional wellbeing is the foundation of physical and mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Indigenous Australians). It takes a holistic view of health as it recognises that connection to land, sea, culture and spirituality all influence wellbeing. Social, historical and political factors can also affect wellbeing.

Social and emotional wellbeing is a collectivist approach to an individual’s self-concept: the self is inseparable from, and embedded within, family and community. Cultural groups and individuals have their own, unique experiences of social and emotional wellbeing (Gee et al. 2014).

Social and emotional wellbeing problems are distinct from mental health problems and mental illness, although they can interact and influence each other (PM&C 2017). Even with good social and emotional wellbeing, people can experience mental illness. People with mental health problems or mental illness can live and function at a high level with adequate support yet continue to have social and emotional wellbeing needs (AIHW & NIAA 2020).

Indigenous perspective of health

The concept of health is complex, and there is no clear definition that is consistent across cultures. For researchers, practitioners and policy-makers to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, it is important for a definition to be agreed upon. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations were established in the late 1970s. Their efforts to define health from an Indigenous perspective resulted in concepts that are based on holistic health, such as social and emotional wellbeing. In 2004, the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2004–09 was established (Gee et al. 2014). It has 9 guiding principles that underpin social and emotional wellbeing:

1. Health as holistic
2. The right to self-determination
3. The need for cultural understanding
4. The impact of history in trauma and loss
5. Recognition of human rights
6. The impact of racism and stigma
7. Recognition of the centrality of kinship
8. Recognition of cultural diversity
9. Recognition of Aboriginal strengths.

The Framework

The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017–2023

The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017–2023 (the Framework) proposes a model of social and emotional wellbeing with 7 overlapping domains:

• body
• mind and emotions
• family and kin
• community
• culture
• country
• spirituality and ancestors (PM&C 2017; Gee et al. 2014).

The Framework is intended to guide and inform Indigenous mental health and wellbeing reforms in Australia. It describes the importance of social and emotional wellbeing for Indigenous Australians and provides a model of it.

Background

The Framework was developed under the guidance of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group. It was endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council in February 2017.

Domains of social and emotional wellbeing

Social and emotional wellbeing views the self as inseparable from, and embedded within, family and community: the self is surrounded by 7 overlapping domains that are sources of wellbeing and connection. The domains support a strong and positive Indigenous Australian identity. The model also acknowledges that history, politics and society all affect the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australians (Gee et al. 2014).

The 7 domains are:

Connection to body Physical health; feeling strong and healthy and able to physically participate as fully as possible in life.

Connection to mind and emotions Mental health; the ability to manage thoughts and feelings. Maintaining positive mental, cognitive, emotional and psychological wellbeing is fundamental to an individual’s overall health.

Connection to family and kinship These connections are central to the functioning of Indigenous Australian societies. Strong family and kinship systems can provide a sense of belonging, identity, security, and stability for Indigenous people.

Connection to community Providing opportunities for individuals and families to connect with each other, support each other and work together.

Connection to culture Maintaining a secure sense of cultural identity by participating in practices associated with cultural rights and responsibilities.

Connection to Country Helping to ‘underpin identity and a sense of belonging’. Country refers to an area on which Indigenous people have a traditional or spiritual association. Country is viewed as a living entity that provides nourishment for the body, mind and spirit.

Connection to spirituality and ancestors Providing ‘a sense of purpose and meaning’. The mental health and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australians can be influenced by their relationship with traditional beliefs and metaphysical worldviews.

The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017-2023

Related publications

While there are many descriptions of wellbeing, the fact that it’s important to all people is irrefutable. Wellbeing has many components, such as mental, psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual.

Social Wellbeing is a sense of belonging to a community and making a contribution to society.

Emotional Wellbeing means feeling good. Being happy, experiencing positive emotions like love, joy or compassion, and feeling generally satisfied with life.

Spiritual Wellbeing can include feeling connected to a higher power, a sense of meaning or purpose or feelings of peace or transcendence.

The World Health Organisation describes ‘wellbeing’ as a “resource for healthy living” and “positive state of health” that is “more than the absence of an illness” and enables us to function well: psychologically, physically, emotionally and socially. In other words, wellbeing’ is described as “enabling people to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, form positive relationships with others and meaningfully contribute to the community” (Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project 2008).

Sarah Stewart-Brown, professor of public health at Warwick University (UK) and wellbeing expert explains that wellbeing can take many forms but a useful description is “feeling good and functioning well and feeling happy is a part of wellbeing but far from the whole”.

There is a deeper kind of wellbeing, which is about living in a way that is good for you and good for others around you. Further to this concept of wellbeing:

• Feelings of happiness, contentment, enjoyment, curiosity and engagement with their community, are characteristic of someone who has a positive experience of their life.
• Equally important to wellbeing, is our capacity to psychologically function well in the world. Maintaining positive relationships, having some control over one’s life and having a sense of purpose, self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Wellbeing does not mean that you never experience feelings or situations that you find difficult, but it does mean that you feel you can cope with tough times.

It’s important to understand that ‘wellbeing’ or ‘being- well’ as something you do, rather than something you are. The things we do and the way we think can have a big impact on our experience!

Benefits from Wellbeing

Hundreds of research studies have proven, wellbeing doesn’t just feel good – it’s important for happier, healthier living:

• Optimism and positive emotions can reduce the risk of a heart attack by up to 50%. Optimism can be learnt!
• Experiencing three times more positive emotions compared to negative ones leads to a tipping point beyond which we become more resilient to adversity and better able to achieve things.
• Happier people live longer – potentially adding 7½ years to their lifespan.
• Our expression of positive emotions, such as happiness and optimism, influences the people we know, and studies show our positivity can be passed on to others.
• Having high levels of wellbeing has been shown to increase our immunity to infection, lower our risk of some mental health problems, reduce mental decline as we get older, and increase our resilience.
• A high level of wellbeing is as good for heart health and provides as much protection from coronary heart disease as quitting smoking does.

Research also shows that people who report higher levels of wellbeing tend to be:

• More involved in social activities and community groups
• Environmentally responsible
• Experiencing better family and social relationships at home
• More productive at work
• More likely to be working or studying full-time
• more likely to recover quicker from a range of chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes), and
• In young people, higher levels of wellbeing significantly influence alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use.

Evidence suggests that the whole population can benefit from being active to increase or maintain their psychological wellbeing. The diagram below (Keys 2002) shows that wellness and illness are not opposites, but rather are on two different measures. It explains how wellbeing can be improved for people who do not have a diagnosed illness but have low levels of wellbeing, and for those who do have a diagnosed illness.

Psychological wellbeing includes a number of different aspects:

• Autonomy: the freedom to make your own decisions
• Self-acceptance: satisfaction or happiness with oneself. This includes an awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses. It results in an individual feeling that they are of “unique worth”.
• Mastery: the ability to manage everyday situations.
• Positive relationships with family, friends or others.
• A sense of purpose or meaning in life.
• Personal growth: facing challenges that are manageable and lead to developing new skills or becoming a better person.

Influences on Wellbeing

While there are many influences, it is now broadly understood that the greatest influences on our quality and capacity for optimal wellbeing largely relate to the social and economic conditions of where our lives take place (World Health Organisation 2004).

These influences interact with one another and with other known biological and psychological influences. This makes health and wellbeing complex.

The 5 Ways To Wellbeing draws on scientific evidence about protective factors for psychological and emotional wellbeing operating at an individual level.

The most recent and extensive research evidence suggests there are 5 main ways all individuals can play an active role towards improving and maintaining a sense of wellbeing:

1. Connect
2. Be Active
3. Keep Learning
4. Be Aware
5. Help Others

Further Reading/References

1. Diener E, Seligman ME. Beyond money. Toward an economy of well-being. Psychological Science in the Public Interest2004;5(1):1–31
2. Herrman HS, Saxena S, Moodie R. Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging Evidence, Practice.A WHO Report in collaboration with the Victoria Health Promotion Foundation and the University of Melbourne. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2005. http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/MH_Promotion_Book.pdf[PDF – 1.98MB]. Accessed Oct. 1, 2010
3. World Health Organization. 1949. WHO Constitution. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from http://www.who.int/about/en/.
4. Ryff CD, Keyes CLM. The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology1995;69(4):719–727
5. Keyes CLM. The mental health continuum: from languishing to flourishing in life. J Health Soc Res 2002;43(6):207-222.
6. Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project 2008, Final project report – executive summary, The UK Government Office for Science, London