vaal mental health - business profile v 6

Vanderbijlpark Office Work: (016) 931-2910 Mail: [email protected] Address: 10 Daudet Street

Vanderbijlpark 1911

Sebokeng Office Work: (016) 592 3360 Mail: [email protected] Address: Stand 57

Industria Zone 10 Sebokeng

Vaal Mental Health

NPO no: 001-874

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Sebokeng Office (016) 592 3360 [email protected] Stand 57 Industria Zone 10

Sebokeng

Services rendered in a professional and transparent way in a spirit of caring, honesty and dignity

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Last Updated on 2016/03/29

Vanderbijlpark Office (016) 931-2910 [email protected] 10 Daudet Street

Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

1. Who is Vaal Mental Health? Vaal Mental Health (previously known as Vaal Triangle Mental Health) is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO number 001-874 NPO) focused on the mental health of the population of the Sedibeng area of the Gauteng Province in South Africa. Vaal Mental Health is one of the 17 Mental Health Societies from across South Africa that forms part of the South Africa Federation for Mental Health - SAFMH. (http://www.safmh.org.za) So what is mental health? The World Health Organisation defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his / her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Mental health is severely threatened by mental illnesses. A Sunday Times investigation (7 July 2014) revealed that 1 in 3 people in South Africa suffer from mental illnesses. These illnesses include the top five mental health diagnoses which according to SAFMH are:

depression

substance abuse

anxiety

bipolar disorder

schizophrenia 2. How is Vaal Mental Health Managed and Funded?

Edward von Bodenstein Yvonne Coertze


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

Vaal Mental Health has its own board of non-paid volunteers currently chaired by Edward von Bodenstein. Yvonne Coertze is the director of Vaal Mental Health and is responsible for the day-to-day operations. (Similar to the role of a CEO) Although sitting on the board of SAFMH, Vaal Mental Health (similar to the other 16 Mental Health Societies from across South Africa) is an independent body with its own governing structure and provides community-based mental health services to Sedibeng. The National Office of SAFMH aims to provide support to the 17 Mental Health Societies from across South Africa from a strategic national perspective and to a certain extent streamline mental health services in South Africa. Limited funding is provided by SAFM to these 17 Mental Health Societies. From a funding perspective Vaal Mental Health needs to generate and manage its own funds whilst receiving a partial subsidy from government that is shrinking annually.

3. Vaal Mental Health’s Current Facilities and Employees Vaal Mental Health currently has two offices. (One in Vanderbijlpark and one in Sebokeng)

The current employees of Vaal Mental Health consist of 4 social workers, 1 auxiliary worker and 1 secretary.

Sebokeng Office


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

4. The Geographic Service Scope of Vaal Mental Health The geographic scope of Vaal Mental Health’s services is the whole of Sedibeng, Sedibeng covers a geographic region of 4,630 square kilometres and consists of:

Towns: Emfuleni (Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging), Midvaal (Meyerton, Waterval, Randvaal, Henley-on-Klip, Tedderfield, Walkerville, Savannah City, De Deur), Lesedi (Heidelberg)

Townships:Evaton, Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Bophelong, Boipatong, Rathanda, Sicelo


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

5. The Service Users of Vaal Mental Health Vaal Mental Health services the whole Sedibeng area. Sedibeng has a population of 942,470 people and 220,545 households (2013 statistics). The Sedibeng population constitutes between 7% and 8% of the total population of the Gauteng province. Given that 1 in 3 people suffer from mental illnesses it means Vaal Mental Health has 314,156 potential service users in Sedibeng. The 2013 age breakdown of the Sedibeng population as well as the estimated age breakdown by the year 2018 is depicted below:


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

The population group breakdown of the Sedibeng population is depicted below:

From the above it is clear that the Sedibeng population (the service users of Vaal Mental Health) are getting younger and is primarily from the African population group.

6. The Vision of Vaal Mental Health The vision of Vaal Mental Health is “A mentally healthy Vaal community, with people living a sustainable quality life with dignity, whilst fulfilling their potential.” This vision includes that each person is helped and supported according to their own needs, short and long term. The construction of community centres for people with mental deficiencies is incorporated in the vision as well as informing all the schools in Sedibeng about mental health. Day-care facilities, Long-term care, Training and Skills development of service users are also envisioned. The end result once Vaal Mental Health is successful in the execution of its vision would include:

Optimal services to the disabled in Sedibeng. (Determining their needs and addressing it on an ongoing basis thereby ensuring them a quality life.)


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

Service users in Sedibeng who can function independently, regaining their self-value. Stigmas minimized by information dissemination.

Day care, training and skilled long-term care for service users in Sedibeng.

A Sedibeng community that is mentally healthier.

The Sedibeng community informed about the causes of mental illness and its prevention. To fulfil this vision, Vaal Mental Health in the longer term would require:

Several more offices (4 more?)

Several day-care centres (4 centres?)

Several community centres (3 centres?)

More social workers and care givers (35 employees?)

A drastic increase in funds (20 to 30 times its current income?) 7. Services Rendered by Vaal Mental Health The services currently rendered by Vaal Mental Health to service users in Sedibeng and also foreseen to be rendered to service users in Sedibeng in future are summarised in the mission statement: Vaal Mental Health focuses on helping people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities and illnesses in the Sedibeng area to play an active and constructive role in their respective communities by delivering the following services:

Individual psychosocial therapy

Emotional support (individual and groups)

Parenting training and support group

Depression support groups

Day care centres

Protected labour Community centres

Skills development centres

Foster care supervision services

Statutory work

Education and dissemination of information on mental health and mental illnesses These services are rendered in a professional and transparent way in a spirit of caring, honesty and dignity. 7.1 Individual psychosocial therapy This refers to therapy done with an individual service user. Psychosocial therapy is an effective way to improve the quality of life of individuals with psychosocial illness and their families. This can lead to fewer hospitalizations and less difficulties at home, school and at work. During psychosocial therapy, the service users are helped to identify and work through the factors that may be triggering the illness.


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

Trauma therapy is an example of individual psychosocial therapy. Some examples where Vaal Mental Health was involved in rendering this service in the past were trauma therapy for people who:

Lost a family member through death (Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark)

Was exposed to murders (Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark)

A shop that was robbed (Vanderbijlpark) A child shooting a teacher at school (Sasolburg) Due to the large time investment required of social workers with this service, Vaal Mental Health is severely constrained in delivering this service due to the low number of social workers employed.

7.2 Emotional support (individual and groups) Vaal Mental Health helps service users to develop close and healthy relationships. This service also aims to give emotional support to the family members of people suffering from mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder etc. and assist them to adjust to living with a family member suffering from these illnesses. Another example of this service in an industrial context was giving emotional support to the families of two workers at Samancor who lost their brain function due to Manganese poisoning in an industrial accident. In some instances this service could be required due to temporary trauma or incidents like retrenchments (group support and programs to help people to work through anger and depression), people becoming disabled due to an accident or in one case where two men were taken hostage and disappeared while on an overseas trip. One extreme case was a service user (psychiatric patient) who had to be assisted to get a SASSA grant – he didn’t want to sign any papers.

Foster Parent in Individual Therapy


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

Under emotional group support Vaal Mental Health also runs holiday programs for the children under foster care.

7.3 Parenting training and support groups The focus here is on Vaal Mental Health’s service users (biological and foster parents) parenting competencies and involvement in their children’s lives. The main aim is to prevent/reduce problem behaviour in children. A special program (Building your dream family) is used to equip biological parents and foster parents in coping with their disabled / mentally disabled children. In some instances where children were removed from a home, the parents are trained to enable them to develop their parenting skills so the children can be returned to them. Just in the Sebokeng office alone Vaal Mental Health is engaging with more than 160 foster parents. This is due to the tendency of parents to reject physically or mentally disabled children as well as the high number of mentally disabled AIDS orphans. Some of the parenting support groups also include crafts.

HIV Orphans in Holiday Program

Parenting Support Group


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

7.4 Depression support groups People suffering from psychosocial illness support each other through group discussions and group activities under the supervision of a social worker. Some of the discussion topics includes how to handle medication, correct eating habits, how to get to know yourself etc. Due to the economic downturn and the resultant retrenchments people suffering from depression in Sedibeng is on the increase. 7.5 Day care centres This is a part of Vaal Mental Health’s vision that must still be realised. Such a centre would be ideal for the Sharpeville / Tshepiso environment with its more than 66,000 population. At such a day care centre service users will get the opportunity to get out of the house and receive both mental and social stimulation. Without something to keep mentally disabled adults constructively engaged they tend to get involved in substance abuse. Vaal Mental Health would need to employ community workers to operate these centres. 7.6 Protected labour Community centres

This is a part of Vaal Mental Health’s vision that must still be realised and the idea is to combat poverty under service users. A centre where people living with intellectual disability and psychosocial disability can work and earn some money in a protected environment. Vegetable gardens, a car wash, crafts, a restaurant / coffee shop and a crèche is envisioned. As far as facilities are concerned, this could be combined with the Day Care and Skills Development centres. Vaal Mental Health would need to employ community workers to operate these centres. 7.7 Skills development centres This is also a part of Vaal Mental Health’s vision that must still be realised. The idea is to have a centre where volunteers can engage with people with intellectual disabilities and psychosocial disabilities to develop their skills in order for them to eventually work in the open labour market or in one of Vaal Mental Health’s centres. They might also be placed in internship positions at businesses for further on-the-job training. The services of an Occupational Therapist would be required to assess the potential of service users. As far as facilities are concerned, this could be combined with the Day Care and Protected labour Community centres. Vaal Mental Health would need to employ community workers to operate these centres.

7.8 Foster care supervision services We give support, training and information to foster parents in order to care properly for the foster children placed into their care.


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

This service primarily entails supervision of children with mental illnesses placed under the care of foster parents. The progress of these children at school and home should be tracked and interventions should be taken when there are problems. This service entails visits to schools, foster parent homes and the writing of progress reports every 2nd year. Just in the Sebokeng office alone Vaal Mental Health is engaging with more than 160 foster parents. Sometimes this service also entails assisting foster parents to apply for care dependency grants for instance for the placement of a blind child in a special school for the blind.

7.9 Statutory work Vaal Mental Health adheres to the laws that exist to protect the vulnerable service users they work with. Vaal Mental Health works most of the time with the Children’s Act, Act 38/2005 and with the Mental Health Care Act, Act 17/2002 and the Mental Health Care Amendment Act, Act 12/2014. Under statutory work a social worker of Vaal Mental Health might appear in court to remove abused mentally disabled children from their biological parents and place them under foster care. This type of work entails home visits, several interviews with the family, the selection of foster parents, the writing of reports for court and the completion of all the legal documentation.


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

7.10 Education and dissemination of information on mental health and mental illnesses The main aim with this is to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with psychosocial illness are often subject to. Vaal Mental Health would have awareness sessions at normal and special schools regarding the link between drug abuse and suicide. In some instances Vaal Mental Health would also utilise the media (radio / newspapers) to educate the public. Vaal Mental Health would also assist the families of service users and the service users themselves to accept their mental illness, use medication correctly to be able to continue with their lives as normally as possible. Sometimes Vaal Mental Health need to engage with police and other care givers like GP’s and nurses to treat service users correctly and with dignity.

8. Challenges Faced by Vaal Mental Health In the past Vaal Mental Health only delivered services to the Vaal Triangle community. With the formation of the Sedibeng district municipality, the amount of service users grew exponentially although the number of facilities and employees didn’t increase to handle the additional workload. Vaal Mental Health is not equipped to service the need of service users in Sedibeng. The funds to grow their facilities and employees to the required levels is also not available. One needs to look at the past to determine the cause of Vaal Mental Health’s financial dilemma. In the 1960’s the South African government outsourced a large portion of its social welfare responsibilities and work to charities (called non-government organisations or NGO’s) like Vaal Mental Health on a subsidised basis. A partnership agreement was concluded between the government and these charities according to which government would have subsidised 85% of these charities’ operational expenses. Unfortunately the South African government in the last decades was not fulfilling its part of this agreement and didn’t increase these subsidies to keep

Wellness Day – Rand Water


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

track with inflation. This is placing a severe financial strain on organisations like Vaal Mental Health. Vaal Mental Health is therefore caught in a position where available funds (subsidies) are shrinking whilst the workload and the number of service users are growing exponentially. 9. Addressing Vaal Mental Health’s Challenges At a planning session in late 2015 Vaal Mental Health set the following objectives to address their main challenges in the shorter term:

To partner with the Department of Social Development at national level involving the National Office of SAFMH by 30 September 2016.

To obtain R1,5 million additional annual funding by 31 March 2017. (The long term need based on the vision is estimated at R25 million per annum)

To implement the three SAFMH awareness campaigns in Sedibeng by 31 October 2016.

The execution of these objectives are all in process. Since the most pressing challenge is the financial one, a Fundraising & Donor Development team was established under the coordination of Johan Sipho Coetzee, who has extensive business development and business development management experience. The team currently consist of more than 7 highly skilled individuals who would be targeting businesses across Gauteng and Sedibeng to become donors to Vaal Mental Health and who would focus on raising funds for Vaal Mental Health.

10. Benefits to Companies Donating Funds to Vaal Mental Health A donation to Vaal Mental Health should be viewed as supporting a very worthy cause. Since the Sedibeng population constitutes between 7% and 8% of the total population of the Gauteng province, you would be doing a substantial investment in the South African economy and increasing its productivity.

Johan Sipho Coetzee


Sebokeng


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Vanderbijlpark

NPO no: 001-874

From a corporate social investment perspective, a donation to Vaal Mental Health would make perfect sense and the Fundraising & Donor Development team would ensure that your business gets the necessary media exposure to thank you for your donation. If your business is based in Sedibeng or some of your employees are staying in the Sedibeng area, you would be investing directly in increasing your company’s productivity by boosting the mental health of your employees and their families. The Fundraising & Donor Development team could also assist you to channel your donation to Vaal Mental Health in such a way that your company gets recognition on your Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) scorecard. Since Vaal Mental Health is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) donations to Vaal Mental Health is tax deductible in South Africa. (Up to a maximum of 10% of the entity’s / company’s taxable income.) An invoice with the necessary NPO number would be issued in advance to a donor to ease the payment process as well as a special receipt after payment to act as proof of the donation to the receiver of revenue.

vaal mental health - business profile v 6

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