Social and emotional well-being and economic insecurity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders: A multidimensional approach

Abstract

This study examines the relative deprivation in the mental health, henceforth referred to as ‘social and emotional well-being (SEWB)’, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in relation to non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The study uses the multidimensional deprivation methodology to quantify the deprivation in SEWB. The results show wide variation in the relative deprivation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people between the dimensions of SEWB. This study finds robust evidence that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience lower SEWB and higher economic insecurity than the rest and the gap refuses to narrow over time.