Join us for the Annual General Meeting on 29 August 2024 at 18h00
Come and hear what we’ve been up to, have your say, show your support… whatever your reason, please show up
Date: 29 August 2024
Time: 18h00 to 19h00
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84882278005?pwd=ceE0rnJ9QwDarEvOXhwg6xSBGDaO7S.1
For approval:
Join the PsySSA DRM Division for Episode 2 of their podcast: The Role of Research Psychology in the Clinical Landscape of South Africa
Date: 18 July 2024
Time: 12:00 to 13:00
Platform: Teams
With a focus on prevention and early intervention, universal school-based mental health interventions show promise in meeting the mental health need among children and young people (CYP) in South Africa. Yet, few culturally relevant and contextually appropriate interventions of this kind have been delivered in low- and middle-income settings. While schools are considered ideal settings for delivering intervention support, given this is where young people spend most of their time, not much is known about delivering such interventions in the South African context. Given the need, we piloted such an intervention in 2021 in partnership with a local NGO called Community Keepers, called Four Steps to My Future (4STMF). We aimed to determine outcomes related to feasibility, acceptability, and the utility of secondary outcome measures. We also conducted Ripple Effects Mapping in 2023, to explore the wider unintended outcomes of this work. Our findings showed that 4STMF can flexibility and feasibly be delivered to fit in with school context, evidenced by high session attendance and pre- post measure completion rates as well as exit focus group data. In this webinar, I will talk about the challenges, opportunities, and methodological considerations of conducting universal school-based research in a South African setting.
See the link below to join!
Prof Bronwynè Coetzee is an Associate Professor of Psychology and National Research Foundation (NRF) Y1-rated researcher. She is a member of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) and an executive member of the PsySSA’ s Division for Research and Methodology. In 2023, she received the Stellenbosch University award for research excellence and innovation as an emerging researcher. Her teaching focuses on child and adolescent development and mental health, and she conducts research in these areas. In terms of research, Prof Coetzee’s research is broadly located within the fields of health psychology and mental health. In terms of health psychology, her research focuses on factors affecting treatment adherence amongst children, adolescents and their caregivers living with HIV in South Africa. Secondly, in terms of mental health, her research also focuses on the promotion of psychological well-being amongst children, adolescents, and their caregivers in South Africa through prevention and early intervention, with a focus on universal interventions. Prof Coetzee has published more than 50 academic papers in peer reviewed and accredited journal related to her fields of research. She has graduated 18 honours students (with three ongoing), 15 master’s students (with 9 ongoing) and 3 doctoral students (with 3 ongoing).
Date: 20 June 2024
Time: 12h00 to 13h00
About the webinar: High potential employees are up to eight times more productive than others (McKinsey, 2023) and three times more likely to stay with organisations if their leaders have good interpersonal skills (HBR, 2022). As organisations increasingly recognise the importance of understanding the factors that influence employee performance, the need to critically evaluate the value of psychometric assessments, amongst other selection methods, has become crucial. This webinar therefore provides an overview of what should be considered when determining whether a psychometric assessment is fit for purpose, how standardised and fair assessment usage increases organisational effectiveness, and concludes by discussing various approaches to measuring the ROI of psychometrics.
Dr Pakeezah Rajab is a Senior Researcher at JVR Psychometrics and an executive member on a number of PsySSA structures. Her PhD focused on non-intellectual factors that influence mathematics performance in South Africa, and Pakeezah was awarded the International Test Commission Early Career Scholarship (2024) for this study. She has experience applying psychometric results to a variety of contexts, including schools, private practice, higher education, and corporate environments. Pakeezah has worked on numerous projects that developed, validated and/or standardised assessments for use by the South African population – including aptitude, personality, values, career guidance and emotional intelligence. Her research interests include cognitive functioning, student performance and assessment development.
“The objective of Men’s Health Month is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This month allows healthcare providers, public policymakers, the media, and individuals to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and prompt treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with thousands of awareness activities around the globe.”
I want to preface this article with a story. This is not a story of triumph or even a love story. This story starts with a young boy. Not much after his 10th birthday in fact. He met a wise man who used to be a very powerful warrior. He used to regale the children of his village with heroic stories of battle and facing many monsters that he encountered along the way. All the other children wanted to be like this great man, except this boy. The man was intrigued by this boy as he never marveled at the battles with the sea monsters or the trolls in the mountain but rather he showed interest in why the man chose to face these challenges. One day the boy saw the aged warrior sitting under a tree overlooking the valley. Cautiously the boy approached him, “Sir, do you mind if I join you?” He asked. “Certainly my boy!” He replied enthusiastically, as if his loneliness spoke on his behalf. The boy sat down in silence next to the retired warrior.
After a short while the man asks “Do you want to hear some of my stories? The great battles? The powerful monsters?”. “Yes sir, but I don’t want to hear the stories you tell the other children in the village.” Responded the boy while picking little blades of grass. “No? Which stories do you want to hear?” The man asked surprisingly. “I want to hear the story of why you went on these adventures. Why do you never tell us about the failures or the friends you had? I know all of the stories of what you had done but you never told us what scared you or anything other than what you think we want to see when we think of you.” the boy said in a very kind manner. The old warrior was silent, clearly taken aback by this. “What do you mean boy? My stories are the ones that will carry my name into history and songs, like all the warriors before me. That is the way of the great warriors.” He retorted almost gleefully.
“That is the thing that I do not understand sir, you want to be remembered for all your great deeds and heroic labours to inspire others to be like you, but you don’t want others to know who you were as a person.” The boy countered. “Who I am does not matter as much as what I accomplished to those who seek to be like me, little boy, the person I am may just break down the legacy I am meant to leave behind.” The old man says honestly. “Oh, can I ask you a question? To you, not to the warrior you are meant to be.” The boy says while taking the time away from his meticulous grass picking. The old man nodded. “What is the hardest thing you have ever done?” The boy asked. “Admitting to my fellow warriors that I am scared of facing the monster that we are sent to slay.” The old man said. “What scares you the most?” The boy asked while moving closer to the old man. As a tear ran down his war battered cheek the old man said: “Asking for help”…
The purpose of this story is not to take away from those who seem to have conquered all but rather to share the idea of how society has influenced the stigma of men’s mental health. You never know what those around you may be going through. From the automated responses of “Im fine” to the isolated patterns of emotional acting. The newest war that the world is facing is the mental health war. Traditional masculinity which is supposedly influenced by the Stoic philosophy has created a battlefield the requires the hiding of wounds in fear of appearing weak. The reluctance to seek help, the fear of societal judgement and rejection has resulted in men falling into the abyss of addiction and suicidality.
Treatment of physical illness or injury is not frowned upon as to live a key requirement is to have a healthy body. When it comes to mental illness, so many of today’s men are bound by the painfully heavy bonds of masculinity. Emotions are for the weak. Everyone has issues and this is my burden to carry. Those who love me would rather see me die on the battlefield than see me fall off my horse. If Stoicism has taught us anything, reality needs to be accepted for what it is, not what we wish it to be. Acceptance is not approval but rather acknowledgement of fact.
Ask your male friends how they are doing. Check in on them and be honest with them how you are doing. Don’t fear not being fine. The actions, attitudes and thoughts you hang on to can be of value to you and others or they can be the whip that inflicts pain onto you.
Sometimes the bravest thing anyone can do is ask for help.
Mental Health Help Resources
https://www.groundup.org.za/article/how-accesspublic-mental-health-services
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-southafricans-take-care-of-mental-health/J
Start or join a support group / support group: www.sadag.org.
Men’s Health Month in June focuses on raising awareness about the health challenges confronting men and advocating for early detection and treatment of diseases. In South Africa, this initiative holds significant relevance due to the distinctive health issues men encounter. These include high rates of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes, making men’s health a pressing public health concern demanding urgent attention (van Heerden et al., 2017).
A foremost concern in South Africa is the heightened prevalence of HIV/AIDS among men. Men exhibit lower rates of HIV testing and tend to seek healthcare only at advanced disease stages (Sileo et al., 2018). This delay not only compromises their health outcomes but also elevates the risk of transmission to others, necessitating concerted efforts to promote regular HIV testing and early treatment.
Mental health emerges as another critical area necessitating attention. South African men often grapple with societal expectations to suppress emotions and avoid discussing mental health issues, potentially leading to adverse outcomes such as elevated suicide rates (Rammopo, 2021). Moreover, suppressed emotions may serve as a risk factor for functional neurological disorder, predisposing men to various physical health complications, including hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular accidents, and seizures. Facilitating open dialogues about mental health and ensuring accessibility to mental health services are crucial steps in addressing this issue effectively.
Additionally, substance abuse, particularly alcohol consumption, represents a significant concern among South African men (Lawana & Booysen, 2018; Mohale & Mokwena, 2020). This behaviour is associated with diverse health ramifications, including liver disease, cardiovascular complications, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension (Parry et al., 2011), and heightened risks of accidents and violence. Hence, public health campaigns aimed at curtailing alcohol consumption and advocating healthier lifestyles play a pivotal role in mitigating this issue.
Addressing lifestyle factors such as poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, and smoking is also crucial in mitigating men’s health conditions in South Africa and globally. Encouraging regular health check-ups, promoting healthier dietary practices, and advocating for increased physical activity can play a significant role in alleviating the burden of NCDs among men.
Men’s Health Month serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative to address the unique health challenges confronting men in South Africa. Through concerted efforts encompassing awareness-raising, early detection and treatment initiatives, and promotion of healthy behaviours, tangible strides can be made toward enhancing health outcomes and reducing the burden of preventable diseases among men.
Reference List
Lawana, N., & Booysen, F. (2018). Decomposing socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol use by men living in South African urban informal settlements. BMC Public Health, 18, 1-9.
Mohale, D., & Mokwena, K. E. (2020). Substance use amongst high school learners in the south of Johannesburg: Is this the new norm?. South African Family Practice, 62(4), , e1–e6. https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v62i1.5122
Parry, C. D., Patra, J., & Rehm, J. (2011). Alcohol consumption and non‐communicable diseases: epidemiology and policy implications. Addiction, 106(10), 1718-1724.
Rammopo, O. (2021). Constructions of Depression from Black Men Residing in Mabopane [Master’s thesis, University of Johannesburg]. UJ Content. https://hdl.handle.net/10210/501592
Sileo, K. M., Fielding-Miller, R., Dworkin, S. L., & Fleming, P. J. (2018). What role do masculine norms play in men’s HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa?: a scoping review. AIDS and Behavior, 22, 2468-2479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2160-z
van Heerden, A., Barnabas, R. V., Norris, S. A., Micklesfield, L. K., van Rooyen, H., & Celum, C. (2017). High prevalence of HIV and non‐communicable disease (NCD) risk factors in rural KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. African Journal of Reproduction and Gynaecological Endoscopy, 20(2), e25012. https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25012.
The South African National Integrated Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2025 (the Strategy) is a framework for action to work towards the goal that Every South African man and boy is supported to live a long and healthy life. South African men generally have poor healthseeking behaviours and are less likely than women to engage health services across the care cascade, resulting in adverse clinical outcomes for many preventable illnesses. In addition, the health system misses key opportunities to engage with men who do seek services by not offering comprehensive and integrated services to those men who access services for specific conditions.
The Strategy aims to deliver a comprehensive and integrated package of care for men and boys across the life course. The overarching aim of the Strategy is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of South African men and boys. At the heart of the Strategy are four core objectives and associated actions that are designed to drive meaningful progress towards the Strategy’s overarching goal. These include a clear commitment to:
The Strategy advocates for a life-course approach in tailoring interventions to engage and support South Africa’s diverse men and boys across all stages of their lives, with a focus on adolescents (10-19 years); young adults (20-35 years); older men (above the ages of 35); and aging men (above the age of 50) as well as high risk men and boys.
Health is influenced by a complex range of factors, or health determinants. Targeted actions are identified to meet the Strategy’s goal and objectives – actions that require the engagement and collaboration of a wide range of stakeholders from across South Africa. They include all levels of government, the health sector, other sectors, with non-government organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs), researchers and experts, and, of course, with men and boys themselves.
Critical to the success of this Strategy is a clear commitment to implementation planning and to taking an active approach to evaluating, monitoring and communicating progress over time. By providing a framework for gender-focused health, this Strategy highlights South Africa’s commitment to taking collective action to create a healthier future for men and boys.
The Strategy identifies seven key priority health issues which have been identified as key causes of morbidity and mortality for all South African men:
The following platforms are available for men, or those close to men who need mental health support:
Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline: 0800 12 13 14, SMS to 32312
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): 011 234 4837 or 0800 21 22 23 or 0800 12 13 14 (24Hrs) SMS to 31393, http://www.sadag.org
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567
References:
Welcome Ngwenya, M., & Olivia Sumbane, G. (2023). The Urgency of Access to Men-Centered Mental Healthcare Services to Address Men’s Sensitive Issues in the Communities of South Africa. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.108493 (https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/84694)
The South African National Integrated Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2025 (https://knowledgehub.health.gov.za/system/files/elibdownloads/2023-04/Men%2526%2523039%253Bs%2520Health%2520Strategy.pdf)
On 9 May 2024, Dr Olivia Yates joined Fatima Peters for the first DRM Webinar of 2024, to discuss Dr Yates’s use of talanoa, a Pacific qualitative method/ology, in collaborative research on climate migration from Tuvalu and Kiribati to New Zealand. Dr Yates contextualised talanoa and explored the nuances of its use by non-Pacific peoples, like herself.
Dr Olivia Yates (she/her) is a New Zealand community psychologist with English, Irish and Scottish Ancestry. Her action-oriented PhD was focused on Pacific climate mobility and related policy solutions. She currently works for World Vision New Zealand in climate change advocacy as a policy and research advisor.
You can access the webinar recording on the DRM You Tube Channel here: