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Social Development visits funded community based organisations
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The Department of Social Development is conducting nationwide oversight visits to various community-based organisations that are funded to render social development services across South Africa.
In a statement on Sunday, the department said the visits form part of the department’s ongoing measures to build and strengthen the capacity of non-governmental organisations that render much-needed services to communities.
This includes psychosocial support to vulnerable children and families, HIV prevention, teenage and unplanned pregnancies targeting children and young people.
The department highlighted that South Africa remains the epicentre of the HIV epidemic and there is a great need to prevent and reduce new infections, with a strong focus on young people.
“As one of the key departments in HIV and AIDS response, Social Development has developed a compendium of social and behaviour change programmes which seek to contribute to the reduction of new HIV infections as well as mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals, families and communities.
“The compendium of programmes consists of the following programmes: You Only Live Once (YOLO), ChommY, Boys Championing Change, Men Championing Change, Family’s Matter and the Rock Leadership programme, which specifically targets traditional leaders,” the department said.
The community-based organisations that were visited last week include Brother Services Community Development in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga. The organisation received funding to prevent new HIV infections, child protection and teenage pregnancy in Lillydale and surrounding communities under the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
“With a staff complement of 23 receiving a monthly stipend and reaching over 5000 beneficiaries through its various programmes, the organisation plans to expand its services by working closely with local schools,” the department said.
A 2022 report by the Department of Health focusing on adolescent and youth district data showed that every year, young girls become pregnant, with Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga respectively identified as teenage pregnancy hot spots.
The department noted that early pregnancies among teenagers presents a myriad of long-term socio-economic challenges such as health risks for teenage mothers and their babies, perpetuating the cycle of intergenerational poverty due to early school dropout, the spread of HIV infections, emotional, psychological, and post-natal depression, among others.
“Social and behaviour change (SBC) programmes are essential components of HIV prevention represent one of the priority interventions highlighted in the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (2023-2028). Social and behaviour change efforts aim to reinforce protective sexual behaviour by addressing knowledge, attitudes, skills and social norms,” the department said.
In Limpopo, the Deputy Minister of Social Development Ganief Hendricks visited Nhlayiso Community Health Drop-in Centre, which renders care and support services persons living with HIV and AIDS as well as psychosocial social support services to orphans and vulnerable children in Greater Tzaneen under the Mopani District.
The organisation also works with local schools and health facilities to prevent teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, substance use, addiction, and other substance-related harms.
“One of the key successes of the organisation is that it provides job opportunities for unemployed social service professionals such as social work graduates, social auxiliary workers and child and youth care workers,” the department said.
In line with its developmental mandate, the department will continue with its oversight visits to funded community-based organisations to monitor the effectiveness of the compendium of social and behaviour change programmes especially those that are targeted at children and young people. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Mon, 03/17/2025 - 10:07
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Mental health and people with disabilities
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By Morapedi Sibeko
Social Development Month and Mental Health Awareness Month are two significant twin observances that fall in October. The aim of these observances is to promote all-encompassing strategies that tackle social concerns as well as mental health requirements, ultimately resulting in communities that are healthier and more resilient.
This linking shows how closely social support networks and mental health are interrelated, particularly for people with disabilities (PWD).
The World Health Organization (WHO), which defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reports that people with disabilities have twice the likelihood of experiencing mental health issues. They also list increasing global awareness of mental health issues and organising mental health-promoting activities as two of October's other main goals.
Mental wellbeing for people with disabilities frequently remains an unattainable objective, secondary to the stigma linked to both their physical condition and mental health difficulties. This dual stigma is responsible for lowering the quality of life and preventing people with disabilities from getting the necessary mental health care.
People with disabilities regularly have to deal with negative expectations and false beliefs about their skills. The burden of judgment increases when mental health issues are involved. It is a common misconception in society that people with disabilities are either "used to" hardship or lack the emotional strength needed to preserve mental health. Due to this twin stigma, people with disabilities are perceived as weak or reliant in terms of both their mental and physical health, which fosters a poisonous environment.
As per WHO, a person's place on the mental health continuum may change as a result of a combination of psychological, societal, and structural factors that either support or compromise mental health throughout life. Often people with disabilities live with an emotional toll that comes from experiencing a world that was supposedly not created with them in mind.
A negative consequence of social stigma is one's internalisation of the unfavourable attitude. A person's incapacity to deal with the hand they've been dealt may lead to them believing their mental health issues are personal failures.
People with disabilities tend to enjoy fewer benefits or have less access to training and development, and they frequently feel alienated at work. They run the danger of social marginalisation, poor health, and diminished productivity at work as a result of this physical and psychological discomfort.
Employers frequently lack the knowledge and readiness to offer the support and accommodations that people with disabilities require. People with disabilities who are employed suffer in silence, feel misunderstood, and lack assistance.
A study by researchers (Trani et.al., 2024) highlights that the lack of opportunities, isolation, prejudice, and accessibility problems that people with disabilities experience can result in mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sadness, depression, or anxiety. This research highlights the value of social development programs that fight stigma and contribute to the creation of a more accepting and inclusive atmosphere for people with disabilities.
The need of inclusive social policies in promoting mental wellness for everyone, especially people with disabilities, is brought home to us in October. We, as community members, can establish settings where each person feels appreciated, encouraged, and capable of thriving by tackling the structural obstacles and stigmas people with disabilities encounter.
*Morapedi Sibeko is the Event Manager at the Department of Social Development
Janine
Tue, 10/29/2024 - 14:42
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Mental health placed under the spotlight
Mental health placed under the spotlight
Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has emphasised the need for targeted interventions that integrate prevention, care, and treatment of mental health challenges, particularly for the youth.
Letsike was speaking at the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF), on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) currently underway in Apia, Samoa.
Letsike is leading the South African delegation at the 2024 CHOGM which is convened under the theme “Our Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth”.
The CHOGM Samoa 2024, taking place from 21 to 26 October 2024, will feature several Ministerial Meetings, including 35 side events, four Forums, and the election of the new Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Addressing the youth forum, Letsike said that as part of the apex priorities for the youth, the Republic of South Africa has prioritised physical and mental health promotion among the youth as a basic human right.
However, the Deputy Minister noted that while many countries like South Africa are starting to put in place mental health policies, such policies often fail to provide for the needs of young people, as they are not adequately implemented.
“As the Republic of South Africa, we are keen to learn from nations in the Commonwealth on how mental health among the youth is addressed, particularly as we forge ahead with our own interventions. We have a responsibility, as governments of the world, to respond to the global mental health crisis among young people,” Letsike said.
Interventions promoting mental health
Letsike highlighted South Africa’s National Youth Policy which proposed interventions that would promote mental health and these include:
• Introducing compulsory physical education to promote healthy lifestyle and combat diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
• Providing recreational facilities, including gyms and sporting facilities in communities.
• Having onsite community and institution-based professionals to provide psycho-social services which strengthen families and address social ills such as mental health, substance abuse, crime, bullying, gender based-violence, rape, racism, and other forms of discrimination.
• Increasing awareness of therapy and counselling services for children, adolescents, and youth, including those in disadvantaged and rural communities.
• Extending programmes and services to support parents and guardians of affected children and youth.
• Increase awareness on counselling services for children, adolescents and youth, including for youth in disadvantaged and rural communities. These include ISHP services, community-based mental health services provided by NGOs, Childline and the South African Depression Action Group (SADAG).
• Department of Health to establish community-based mental health institutions for provision of these services and they should be given names that do not attract stigma to patients.
• Introduce a dedicated 24/7 confidential service toll-free numbers accessible to youth seeking counselling services. Chat services with lay counsellors, youth workers, psychologists, mental health therapists or professional counsellors on platforms such as WhatsApp/Messenger are useful and can be linked to geographic information system (GIS) to identify the location of the user and offer immediate response in case a person has suicidal ideation or other mental health challenges. Such services were advertised widely during pandemic lockdown and should be expanded, rolled out and implemented beyond pandemic.
• All role players must view the mental health issue broadly using the public health lens, and deal with the root causes of challenges facing youth, such as high levels of gender-based violence, drug-abuse, suicide, crime, experiences of racism or other discrimination, and the psyche of unemployed young people.
Letsike said the interventions must be comprehensive, consistent, and adequately meet young people’s mental health needs.
She emphasised that professional counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, specialist nurses, and other trained staff must be prepared with adequate information to ensure quality care provision.
“These professionals must also collaborate with young people, their families, and communities, particularly in dismantling the current power imbalances and patterns of oppression, discrimination, and exploitation.
“We cannot wait any longer to take action - the mental health and well-being of our youth is at stake! The consequences of failing to safeguard the mental health conditions of the youth extend to adulthood, impairing their physical and mental health and limiting opportunities for them to participate meaningfully in all areas of human endeavour,” Letsike said. – SAnews.gov.za
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Call for no alcohol consumption this Social Development Month
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With the country observing Social Development month, Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is appealing all South Africans not to consume alcohol or sell alcohol to children during the month of October.
The call comes as Tolashe and MEC for Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal, Cynthia Mbali Shinga, will be commemorating World No Alcohol Day on Wednesday, 3 October.
The commemoration will take place at Sweetwaters, uMgungundlovu District, Umsunduzi Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
The two leaders will use the day to highlight the harms caused by alcohol abuse which affects individuals, families and communities.
The event will be held in partnership with Kwa Zulu Natal Provincial Department of Social Development, SAAPA (Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance) and the Central Drug Authority (CDA).
The day aims to highlight the effects of alcohol abuse, binge drinking amongst South African youth and the negative effect of selling alcohol to children.
World No Alcohol Day was proposed by India during the World Health Assembly in Geneva in 2008, where 193 World Health Organization (WHO) members signed a resolution to reduce alcohol-related harms.
This year’s commemoration will be held under the theme: “Say No to alcohol and selling alcohol to minors is a crime”.
The theme seeks to raise awareness about the risks associated with alcohol misuse and abuse, and the dangers of selling alcohol to minors which can lead to underage and binge drinking.
Sweetwaters was identified as the place to host the event given its high rate of alcohol abuse, crime and teenage pregnancy.
This community also experienced a tragedy last year when 12 young people abusing alcohol and drugs were burned to death.
The Minister will use this day as one of the targeted outreach programmes during DSD Month, which is held under the theme: “30 years of Democracy, Partnership and Growth: Towards Reigniting the role of the family”.
South Africa’s alcohol consumption
The department highlighted that alcohol is the most misused legal drug in South Africa, and this has a negative impact on the fabric of many communities, especially children and young people.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption globally with alcohol consumption per capita in the country having risen over the last 10 years.
The department further highlighted that alcohol use plays a role in about half of all non-natural deaths. It is involved in 75% of homicide cases; 60% of automobile accidents; and 24% of vehicle deaths and injuries.
Minister Tolashe said alcohol is the third-largest contributor to death and disability after unsafe sex/sexually transmitted infections and interpersonal violence, both of which are themselves influenced by alcohol consumption as alcohol affects sexual and violent behaviour.
“Alcohol use has been recognised as a major contributor to the global burden of disease, with an even greater detrimental effect in low- and middle-income countries and people living in poverty. In total, more than 13 million disability-adjusted life years, or 7% of the total disease burden in South Africa, is attributed to alcohol.”
She said young people aged 15 to 29 have the greatest burden of disease attributable to alcohol use.
Although, men generally use and abuse alcohol more frequently and experience a greater burden of disease than women, a significant proportion of young women in South Africa are also using alcohol.
Women in disadvantaged communities with comparable alcohol use to men are significantly less likely to obtain treatment. Alcohol use in young women is associated with high rates of multiple comorbidities including risky sexual practices, poor adherence to HIV medications, depression, and intimate partner violence (IPV).
Tolashe cautioned that alcohol use among parents /care givers can have long-standing negative effects on their children and their ability to thrive given their homes are often less organised, routines are more chaotic and maternal adherence to health regimens suffer.
“Alcohol use in young women, results in many children in South Africa born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) which could lead to damage to the fetus among pregnant women. It is for this reason that during September, which is known as FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) month, the Department of Social Development conducted awareness campaigns in provinces highlighting the dangers of drinking while pregnant,” the Minister said.
Alcohol widely used among young people
Data from the 2016 South African National Demographic and Health Survey has found that at least one in every four young people had consumed alcohol by the ages of 15–19.
“This is the reason the department, towards the commemoration of World No Alcohol Day is having Youth Dialogues to highlight the dangers of binge drinking and that alcohol should not be sold to minors,” the Minister said.
South Africa witnessed a tragic incident in Scenery Park, in East London, where 21 young lives were lost at the Enyobeni Tavern.
The loss of lives in Scenery Park demonstrated the risks children are exposed to, exacerbated by the triple challenges of poverty, and unemployment as well as broken family structures, poor parenting, poor morale in communities and a lack of community forums/structures to actively implore preventative measures to protect children from such occurrences.
Coupled with this is the limited implementation and monitoring of government policies that govern access to alcohol to children under 18, and licensing of establishments, said the Minister. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Wed, 10/02/2024 - 13:12
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