Family Mental Health

A Vocational Training Institute offering a Diploma in Systematic Family Mental Health was created in 2019 by the Society for Pre and Post Natal Services (SPANS). The goal of this program is to provide graduates with both the skills and knowledge essential to work as qualified family therapists. The effectiveness of the diploma, the changes it has brought about, its benefits, and its influence on families, communities, and the health system are all assessed in this paper.

The ultimate objective of the Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy and Family Developmental Counselling in Maternal, Paternal, and Child Mental Health program is to generate graduates who are capable of working with a wide range of clients, self-assured, and well-versed in Counselling theory and practice. In close partnerships, systemic family therapy and family developmental Counselling facilitate mutual understanding and support. It makes it possible for people and family members to safely express and explore challenging ideas and feelings, to comprehend one another's perspectives and experiences, to recognize one another's needs, to capitalize on the strengths of the family, and to collaborate to create positive, long-lasting changes in their lives and relationships. It has been discovered that Systemic Family Therapy and Family Developmental Counselling are beneficial for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families dealing with a wide range of issues and situations throughout the life course.

This year, a number of students managed to graduate; the initiative's effectiveness was demonstrated by the fact that the institute was able to send 68 students on attachment in the country's ten provinces between January and September 2024, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed between SPANS and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Students in the course attended intensive tutorials for many weeks at a time, followed by periods of individual study, all of which were performed on a block release basis during the academic year. The training program lasts for two years. Along with notes to help them study, students were evaluated in class, through assignments, through group projects, and at the conclusion of each session with block exams. The tests were designed in order to gauge the students' proficiency in using Counselling approaches to address various mental health concerns.

• SPANS_COVID_19_September_Report_2024.pdf (PDF)
  

OUR KEY PRIORITIES: •Family Therapy and Counselling being our core program by increasing the number of students recruited and trained for a Level 5 Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy and Development Counselling in Maternal, Paternal and Child MH (TM5D/W);

•Mental Health at the heart of SPANS by strengthening mental health literacy during the routine antenatal and post natal care visits to make mental health a priority at the primary health care level;

•Family therapy sessions we want maternal mental health screening to be as standard as taking any other physical problems and all those screened will be able to receive continued support through our professionally trained family therapist using the systemic theories.

•SPANS seek to host its 3rd International Conference on Maternal Mental Health in Africa (ICAMMHA); •Prioritise investment in integrating mental health support at the primary care level through our trained family therapist and family based interventions to keep families together and

•Education for the Public on mental health to create awareness and more accepting environments. As we look ahead for another very promising year with SPANS, we are pleased to see the continued commitment from our line Ministry the Ministry of Health and Child Care which provides support and guidance for our training and projects continued expansion. We are looking forward to taking what we havelearned over the past year into 2024 and beyond—and we happy to share the2023 achievements as we continue to put mental health at our hearts.

• SPANS_2023_May_2024_Report_Covid19.pdf (PDF)