Lawrence Mashabela
​The Gauteng Department of Social Development's Mental Health Forum in the Central Corridor recently held a mental health capacity-building workshop at the Soweto College of Education in Pimville.
The event brought together approximately 300 professionals, including Social Workers, Social Auxiliary Workers, Caregivers, and Clinical Psychologists, all of whom are involved in child protection services.
The workshop aimed to promote a comprehensive and preventative approach to mental health, equipping those who work with children with the tools and knowledge needed to recognize and manage common mental illnesses.
Nomsa Sekete, a Social Worker from Child Line Soweto, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Our goal is to ensure that professionals working with children have a solid understanding of mental illness signs and symptoms and are encouraged to collaborate to effectively address mental health issues, particularly for children in our institutions."
Throughout the workshop, attendees shared insights and strategies on addressing various mental health challenges, including substance use disorder, mood disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and disruptive behavioural and impulse control disorders.
Dr. Diana Monama, a Clinical Psychologist, delivered the keynote presentation on the critical need for patience and support when working with children facing disruptive behavioural and impulse control disorders. "We must work together as a multidisciplinary team, including Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Auxiliary Workers, Teachers, and parents, to effectively manage these children's behaviour," Monama urged.
The workshop concluded with a consensus to consolidate the information shared and use it as a guiding framework for future provincial capacity-building initiatives within the Department. This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward enhancing the mental health support available to children across Gauteng.