Family Mental Health

A growing number of Zimbabweans are increasingly seeking mental health services as they abandon traditional myths and beliefs about it. But the rising demand has strained a critically underfunded and understaffed area of the health care system that has been further weakened by more than two years of the coronavirus pandemic. The WHO estimates that in 2020, there were 18 psychiatrists — 94% of whom worked in Harare — six psychologists and 917 psychiatric nurses serving a country with a population of 15 million at the time (Chimbwanda, 2022).

The Society for Pre and Post Natal Services Vocational Training Institute registered as a Vocational Training Institute in terms of the Manpower Planning and Developments Act (Chapter 28:02) offers an Accredited Level 5 Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy and Developmental Counselling in Maternal, Paternal and Child Mental Health. SPANS training program exists to provide an effective clinical practice of family therapy, psychological support, research, and education. This training program bridges the gap between industry needs and shortages, affording students much-needed experience in the form of an attachment program, which provides hands on training in Zimbabwe’s leading public hospitals and health centers. Students nearing the completion of the program are assigned to government hospitals and health centers to offer family therapy and psychological support services under the supervision of experienced healthcare professionals with over 10 years’ experience in their respective fields. A total of 20 students were assessed for the purposes of this evaluation report. The opinions of supervising health practitioners were also sought to help with student performance evaluations, to assess competency of the students, conduct, and aid in their professional development.

• SPANS_Covid19_Community_Family_Mental_Health_Report_September_2023.pdf (PDF)
  

“The more family therapist available to the people the easy accessibility of mental health care services, the cheaper the options of getting professional support. Common mental health problems and disorders need people who are trained provide quality care”. 2023 is the big year for the Society for Pre and Post Natal Services (SPANS) with support from the GlobalGiving generous donors who are supporting the training of family therapist to provide right mental health care at the right place and right time. Common mental health problems are not only about problems or mental disorders but also the triggers that lead to the mental health distress and disorders which may include family backgrounds, relationships, way of life, eating habits, thought patterns, religious beliefs, etc, we have observed that these triggers have been give very little attention comapring to mental health disorders or Illness that require specialised services. With the support of the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science & Technology Development consider the registration of SPANS Vocational Training Institute in conformity with the provisions of the Manpower Planning and Development Act [ Chapter 28:02] through the Provisional Authority to confirm our registration. This registration came in at the right time as Sign language is critical in the effective delivery of sound maternal mental health care services in Zimbabwe. According to the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (2020), “Zimbabwe has a severe shortage of human resources for mental health, with an estimated 18 psychiatrists (17 of them in Harare) or approximately 0.1 per 100000 people. There are 917 psychiatric nurses (6.5 per 100000) and 6 clinical psychologists (0.4 per 100000).”

• COVID19_AND_COMMUNITY_FAMILY_MENTAL_HEALTH_May_2023_Report.pdf (PDF)