Voice to Parliament debate likely to increase psychological distress

Director of Mayi Kuwayu, the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing, Professor Raymond Lovett. Picture by Keegan Carroll

The Voice to Parliament debate is likely to increase psychological distress among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands people, worsening their mental health and increasing demand for support services, experts have warned.

Australians will vote in a referendum this year on changing the constitution to create a permanent Parliamentary Indigenous advisory body, known as the Voice, but people in the Indigenous community are concerned about the impact of the debate on mental health.