Mental health care in Mamelodi : disadvantaged geographical positioning in a South African township

Abstract

Geestesgesondheidsorg in Mamelodi: Benadeelde Geografiese Posisionering in ’n Suid-Afrikaanse Township Hierdie artikel fokus op die huidige geestelike gesondheidsorglandskap in Suid-Afrika binne die konteks van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet, sowel as die Wet op Geestesgesondheidsorg en die Millennium Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte vir Afrika. Teen hierdie agtergrond bespreek dit die werk wat gedoen word by die Itsoseng Gemeenskapskliniek in Mamelodi, ’n sielkunde dienspunt. Alternatiewe benaderings tot werk gedoen met kwesbare kinders word in die besonder aangebied en oor gereflekteer in terme van om moontlikhede uit te wys om die tekort aan hulpbronne aan te spreek vir voldoende en effektiewe geestesgesondheidsorg in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorg konteks. Die kliniek neem ’n sistemiese benadering tot dienslewering aan wat dikwels versorgers sowel as kinders in behandelingsplanne insluit. Met verloop van tyd het die kliniekpersoneel bevind dat verskeie groepwerkmetodes, wat nie-verbale behandelings betrek, effektief is. Die doeltreffendheid van hierdie behandelingsmetodes word tans ondersoek deur 'n deurlopende waglysstudie uit kommer oor die baie kinders wat op die waglys sit vir tot 8 maande.

This article focuses on the mental health care landscape in South Africa at present within the context of the South African constitution as well as the Mental Health Care Act and the Millennium Development Goals for Africa. Against this backdrop it discusses the work done at the Itsoseng Community Clinic in Mamelodi, a psychology service outlet. In particular alternative approaches to work done with vulnerable children are presented and reflected on in terms of indicating possibilities to address the shortage of resources for adequate and effective mental health care in the current South African health care context. The clinic takes a systemic approach to service delivery often including caretakers as well as children in treatment plans. Over time, the clinic staff has found that various group work modes, involving non-verbal treatments, are effective. The effectiveness of these treatment modes are currently being explored through an ongoing wait-list study out of concern for the many children sitting on the waiting list for up to eight months.