P070 Cultural determinants of Sleep Health for First Nations adolescents: Perspectives of Service Providers in Remote Communities

Abstract Background Despite established links between sleep and mental health across the general population, sleep health within a First Nations context is less understood. Moreover, there remains a dearth of culturally responsive approaches for Australian First Nations communities, including adolescents. This qualitative study explores the cultural determinants of First Nations adolescents’ sleep health, drawing on yarning sessions with service providers in remote Northern Queensland (NQ) communities as part of the Let’s Yarn About Sleep Project. Methods Ten yarning sessions were conducted with health and wellbeing and education service providers (N= 27; 23 female; 12 Indigenous) in remote NQ. First Nations community researchers reviewed the data and the Lowitja Cultural Determinants of Health and Wellbeing Framework was used to culturally ground the work and thematically organise First Nations adolescents’ sleep health narratives. Results Preliminary analysis revealed Family, Kinship and Community; and Self-determination and Leadership as key cultural determinants to First Nations adolescents’ sleep health. Participants emphasised there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, suggesting sleep health programs should be guided by place-based, culturally sensitive, First Nations-led, methods sensitive to myriad determinants of sleep health. Discussion Adopting a strengths-based approach, this study sought to situate First Nations adolescents’ sleep health within a rights-based, First Nations-led framework. Findings suggest future sleep health initiatives must privilege First Nations voices and be guided by a holistic health and wellbeing concept, encompassing place-based, culturally responsive and First Nations-led local service delivery. This study advocates for upstream determinants of health to guide future sleep health research, practice and policy.