Blog

On October 14, Mr. Marcus Teunissen, our mental health co-ordinator began a mental health training at our Stellenbosch centre. These sessions are the baby steps to test the community receptivity of this issue of primary healthcare that is so important but yet given such a scant attention. It is no longer news that mental illness is on the rise and has become a significant public health issue worldwide. The local townships and especially the target communities of the Health Promoters are not exempt from this upsurge, hence the need to turn our attention to the problem.

Simultaneously, Mr. Eddy Robles, our team member in charge of home safety training, engaged a group of young men in a first of its kind home training workshop at same venue. In a one-week intensive workshop, the basics of safety around the home, ranging from looking after babies and toddlers, to handling electricity, gas and other essential but dangerous household appliances was the centre of concern. Of the group that participated in the workshop, three candidates have been chosen with whom a pilot program will be launched to reach the wider townships with this vital knowledge. Based on the above, we are proud to announce that two new components have been added to our curriculum: Mental health education and Safety in and around the home.

Regarding the former, the giant step taken recently has helped us determine the level of knowledge of our target populations as regards mental health/illness. It was clear, from the conversations that were had in the workshops that there are many issues people are struggling with but have no clue what to do about them. We intend to focus on primary prevention, especially, with a robust referral system to help clients access mental health services available in their vicinity in case there is need for secondary preventative measures. This introductory session has been an eye opener and has given us added impetus to gravitate further towards the direction we are taking as far as this initiative is concerned. The information we gathered during the sessions will help us create a curriculum that fits the challenges of the townships. Different workshops will be developed at various levels as the plans unfolds.

In terms of the former, the training was mainly, as earlier indicated, aimed at ensuring the basic safety that is needed in homes to avoid unnecessary harm and deaths. We intend to combine this training with at least three compulsory modules from our Basic Health Education (BHE) course. Hopefully we shall be able to attract more men than we currently do through this initiative and help them access vital information not just in safety at their homes but also in hygiene, sexual health and substance abuse, three subjects which are critical for their group. The way forward will see us start a pilot in the townships of Kayamandi and Kraaifontein, and then spread to more communities in due course. We hope to have same success with this training as our current BHE course.

Look at the impression.