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This review summarises the emerging researchand knowledge, key themes and principlessurrounding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islandercultural perspectives and concepts of healing andsocial and emotional wellbeing as they relate tosuicide prevention. These discussions will supportLifeline to enhance and refine their existingknowledge and practices to promote culturallyresponsive suicide prevention services for Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander peoples. This reviewexplores the importance of the delivery of stafftraining programs to achieve this along with externaltraining and program development for Lifelineservices, including the telephone crisis line,Online Chat and emerging Crisis Text. Adoptingan Indigenous research approach, this reviewprioritises Indigenous knowledge of healing andwellbeing and provides examples of culturallyappropriate and effective practices.

This review summarises the emerging research and knowledge, key themes and principles surrounding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural perspectives and concepts of healing and social and emotional wellbeingas they relate to suicide prevention. These discussions will support Lifeline to enhance and refine their existing knowledge and practices to promote culturally responsive suicide prevention services for Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander peoples. This review explores the importance of the delivery of staff training programs to achieve this along with external training and program development for Lifeline services, including the telephone crisis line, Online Chat and emerging Crisis Text. Adopting an Indigenous research approach, this review prioritises Indigenous knowledge of healing and wellbeing and provides examplesof culturally appropriate and effective practices. Culturally responsive Indigenous designed and delivered e-mentalhealth services play a crucial role in overcoming barriers to help seeking experienced by Indigenous people such as a lack of culturally appropriate gender and age specific services, forms of institutional and cultural racism andpoor service delivery which intensify mental health stigma and shame along with fear of ostracism and governmentintervention (Canuto, Harfield, Wittert & Brown, 2019; Price & Dalgeish, 2013). A lack of such services can result inbarriers to help seeking which contribute to higher levels of intergenerational trauma, self-harm and suicide (Isaacs,Sutton, Hearn, Wanganeen & Dudgeon, 2016; Mitchell & Gooda, 2015).Self-determination in the form ofcommunity controlled suicide preventionand healing has been identified asa solution to the transmission ofintergenerational trauma contributingto suicide (Dudgeon et al., 2016).

Most of the evidence for suicide and suicide-related behaviour in the community is not reported or monitored, so the national and international evidence base for suicide prevention policies and programs is underdeveloped. The way evidence is defined may also exclude some successful interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The development of practice-based evidence complements evidence-based practice as it recognises the complexity of the system in which suicide interventions take place. It also allows the intervention to become embedded in the community organically and has the potential to achieve holistic and long-term positive change.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are burdened by trauma. Trauma is compounded by family violence and substance misuse, as well as the stress caused by personal, cultural and institutional racism. Healthy, supportive, loving and nurturing connections to family and kinship networks help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to flourish. In turn this leads to cultural continuity, the preservation of traditional culture. Strengthening connections to family should be embedded in any suicide prevention interventions and initiatives, and culturally safe and responsive work.

Focusing on key Indigenous wellbeing paradigms, discourses, and disciplines this discussion paper presents a distinctive Aboriginal Participatory Action Research (APAR) approach as a transformative Indigenous Research Methodology. It also explores Indigenous Standpoint Theory, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Indigenous Research Methods and Methodologies as key elements in decolonising research, building self-determination in communities, and contributing to Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and Indigenous Psychology. Drawing on three community projects — the Kimberley Empowerment, Healing and Leadership Program, the National Empowerment Project and the Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program — this paper demonstrates how APAR contributes to Indigenous SEWB and Indigenous Psychology. Finally, it examines the interrelationship of core components of APAR articulating an Indigenous epistemology, ontology, axiology (Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing) and methodology covering Indigenous specific methods, guiding principles, research protocols and ethical guidelines.