Oral Presentation (max 20 mins including Q&A) National Men's Health Gathering 2025

Adapting and implementing a culturally-responsive and gender-sensitive hybrid online and face-to-face social and emotional wellbeing program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males: The YBMenNT story  (128798)

James A Smith 1 , Jason Bonson 1 , Melissa Opozda 1 , Jahdai Vigona 2 , Dante Rodrigues 2 , Bryce Brickley 1 , Cameron Stokes 1 , Daphne Watkins 3 , Murray Drummond 4 , Garth Stahl 5 , Mark Robinson 6 , Oliver Black 7 , Kylie Stohers 8 , Gabe Othe 8 , Jacob Prehn 9 , Karla Canuto 1 , Kootsy Canuto 1
  1. Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Darwin, NT
  2. One Percent Program, Darwin, NT
  3. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
  4. College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, FLinders University, Adelaide, SA
  5. School of Education, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
  6. Institute of Social Sciences Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
  7. Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
  8. Indigenous Allied Health Australia, Darwin, NT
  9. School of Social Work, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS

Few health promotion programs have been tailored to the unique health, social, and cultural needs and preferences of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males. This presentation will describe the process of culturally adapting the US-based Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) project to suit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males aged 16-25 years in the Northern Territory, Australia (the YBMenNT project). YBMen is an online education and support program designed to promote mental health, expand and strengthen gender and cultural identities, and enhance social support in college-aged Black men. The adaptation followed an Extended Stages of Cultural Adaptation model. First, we established a rationale for this adaptation, including assessing the appropriateness of YBMen’s core components for the target population. We then investigated culturally appropriate models to underpin the adapted program and conducted a non-linear, iterative process of gathering information from key sources, including young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males, to inform the adaptation and implementation of the program. The adaptation was led by young Indigenous male team members. We retained core curriculum components of mental health, healthy masculinities, and social connection. We also kept the small cohort, private social media group delivery but developed two models: ‘online only delivery’ and ‘hybrid in-person/online’, combining online delivery with weekly in-person group sessions. Curriculum adaptations included use of an overarching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing framework and socio-cultural strengths-based approach; inclusion of modules on health and wellbeing, Indigenous masculinities, and respectful relationships; and use of Indigenous designs, colours, and images/videos of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male sportspeople, musicians, activists, and local role models in posts. The YBMenNT program was then delivered as an implementation trial with three cohorts of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males in the NT. Delivery was facilitated by young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men through a partnership with the One Percent Program, and through the NT-based Indigenous Allied Health Australia NT Academy. We will discuss lessons learned during the adaptation and pilot delivery process; and describe preliminary results arising from YBMenNT project implementation.