PART C: RESEARCH & PREVENTION STRATEGIES
CHAPTER 11: MANAGING COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS
Community mental health movement in SA as context for interventions
SA communities continuous growth after democracy led to need for transformation in all public structures
Aim: transform structures that they’re in line with new culture of human rights/service delivery to all
Transformation key objectives achieving equity in resource allocation & service delivery
Change in health care delivery includes developing a primary health care infrastructure & decentralising
services to promote community participation/accountability
1995: Mental health services & Mental Health Act 18 of 1973 reviewed & national mental health committee formed
Recommended drastic changes to mental health care system to protect patients’ former violated human rights
Mental Health Act 17 of 2002 introduced to initiate changes
Changes hindered by reality of limited access to mental health services (hospitals/outpatient services)
1. Concerns With The New Mental Health Care Legislation
World Health Organization (WHO) noted Mental Health Act 17 of 2002 doesn’t appear extensive enough to bring
forward major reforms greatly needed in SA’s mental health system
Scholars commented the system is plagued with human resource & infrastructure restraints
Thus, implementation of Act’s requirements in community & district hospitals is problematic
SA has limited number of specialised psychiatric hospitals & those available don’t fully abide by requirements
Many SA psychiatric hospitals don’t separate patients by age groups & beds are minimal
Other areas undermining the successful implementation of the Act = lack of proper training, inadequate skills &
lack of proper understanding of the Act
Community mental health projects should be developed/managed at a primary health care level
Aim to develop services preventing mental health problems developing rather than only treating those severely
ill develop interventions with a preventative approach
Services must be implemented at community level = need a systems approach to account for the interaction
between the individual & various community levels
Critical to use project management principles to ensure success of community interventions
Formulate a community intervention
Projects have varying types & levels of importance
BASIC OBJECTIVES PROJECTS’ SHOULD ACHIEVE:
Has starting & ending point process managed accordingly
☝ Bring about change
2 key aspects of project development: ☝ Implement strategic plans
Project Formulation ☝ Resolve specific problems
☝ Accomplish contractual agreements
Project Management
Project Formulation
Also the initiation process = starts with situational analysis & needs
assessment Project cycle process
Assist community & project leaders to justify project’s need
to funders, policymakers & communities
After situational analysis/needs identification process
community intervention developed & managed
Project team develops project plan (spells out activities
necessary to create detailed plan for process)
CHAPTER 11: MANAGING COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS
Community mental health movement in SA as context for interventions
SA communities continuous growth after democracy led to need for transformation in all public structures
Aim: transform structures that they’re in line with new culture of human rights/service delivery to all
Transformation key objectives achieving equity in resource allocation & service delivery
Change in health care delivery includes developing a primary health care infrastructure & decentralising
services to promote community participation/accountability
1995: Mental health services & Mental Health Act 18 of 1973 reviewed & national mental health committee formed
Recommended drastic changes to mental health care system to protect patients’ former violated human rights
Mental Health Act 17 of 2002 introduced to initiate changes
Changes hindered by reality of limited access to mental health services (hospitals/outpatient services)
1. Concerns With The New Mental Health Care Legislation
World Health Organization (WHO) noted Mental Health Act 17 of 2002 doesn’t appear extensive enough to bring
forward major reforms greatly needed in SA’s mental health system
Scholars commented the system is plagued with human resource & infrastructure restraints
Thus, implementation of Act’s requirements in community & district hospitals is problematic
SA has limited number of specialised psychiatric hospitals & those available don’t fully abide by requirements
Many SA psychiatric hospitals don’t separate patients by age groups & beds are minimal
Other areas undermining the successful implementation of the Act = lack of proper training, inadequate skills &
lack of proper understanding of the Act
Community mental health projects should be developed/managed at a primary health care level
Aim to develop services preventing mental health problems developing rather than only treating those severely
ill develop interventions with a preventative approach
Services must be implemented at community level = need a systems approach to account for the interaction
between the individual & various community levels
Critical to use project management principles to ensure success of community interventions
Formulate a community intervention
Projects have varying types & levels of importance
BASIC OBJECTIVES PROJECTS’ SHOULD ACHIEVE:
Has starting & ending point process managed accordingly
☝ Bring about change
2 key aspects of project development: ☝ Implement strategic plans
Project Formulation ☝ Resolve specific problems
☝ Accomplish contractual agreements
Project Management
Project Formulation
Also the initiation process = starts with situational analysis & needs
assessment Project cycle process
Assist community & project leaders to justify project’s need
to funders, policymakers & communities
After situational analysis/needs identification process
community intervention developed & managed
Project team develops project plan (spells out activities
necessary to create detailed plan for process)
