Summary:
‘Brain stories’ is a concept of developing tools to understand and communicate the way that substance abuse and mental health affect the brain and behaviour for Indigneous people. Taking an empirical approach to knowledge translation across cultures, Brain Stories aims to tackle substance abuse and mental health problems by empowering people with knowledge.
While these problems are typically accompanied by stigma and misunderstanding, Brain Stories provides an approach that is tangible, non-judgemental and practical by focusing on the underlying neuroscience. Brain Stories tools can assist those affected to develop or engage in appropriate management and treatment programs. They also arm service providers with appropriate tools to use in education, research, rehabilitation, management and clinical treatment programs. All tools have been developed and validated through participatory action approaches with input from lndigenous people in relevant and diverse settings.
Chief investigator:
- Dr Sheree Cairney