Thanks to a generous donation, Cape Mental Health’s (CMH) advocacy programme can now reach more clients and continue to advocate for people with psychosocial conditions.
Lies Korevaar, a rehabilitation professor at Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen in the Netherlands, donated R30 000 towards CMH’s Cape Consumer Advocacy Body (CCAB).
CCAB is an advocacy group for people with psychosocial conditions that campaigns for their rights and speaks out about the challenges they face.
The handover took place during a ceremony held at CMH’s Fountain House (a psychosocial rehabilitation centre based in Observatory and Mitchells Plain) in Observatory on Wednesday 10 April.
Fountain House creates opportunities for people living with psychosocial disabilities to begin their recovery journey, and reintegration into society and the workplace. At the centre, clients benefit from a work-ordered day programme. They also receive “on-the-job” training for different skills through their participation in various work units, such as administration, catering, craft workshop and employment/communications unit. They also get access to opportunities for work in the open labour market.
Speaking at the ceremony, Korevaar, who has been with the organisation for many years, explained that he recently retired and decided to ask his peers to donate towards this worthy cause.
“I have been involved with CCAB for many years. I know money is always a struggle for them to do their activities. Twenty years ago, when I was appointed as a professor at the university, instead of asking for gifts I asked for donations for CCAB. I got about €1 500. At the time, it was R15 000.
“Last year, I retired, and instead of gifts, I asked people for donations again. I got €1 500, now it’s worth R30 000.”
Korevaar reiterated the importance of advocacy programmes. “It is important that clients have a say in the policy-making in how they are treated. Working as a clinical psychologist at a mental health care organisation in the Netherlands, I saw how important it is that we involve clients in our plans. It is important to have clients as board members so they can include their needs instead of the professionals deciding what is good for them.”
Rene Minnies, manager of the psychosocial rehabilitation programme, said with limited funding, the donation will help them access resources.
“Any donation that can help make our work better is a cost alleviation against our budget. The money is geared towards increasing our advocacy movement.
“At Cape Mental Health, people with lived experiences are the experts and they’re often isolated. Here, within the psychosocial rehabilitation, it is our priority to make sure that our clients’ voices are heard and that they are included.”
She added: “We are hoping that with this funding we will be able to expand our work in terms of advocacy within the organisation, to allow the service users within our programme and in the Western Cape to have a voice.”
Dylan Rademeyer, a peer supporter at Fountain House and chair of CCAB, said the advocacy body was established in 1989 when mental health laws and policies were changing in the country.
He explained that CCAB initiatives consist of psychosocial rehabilitation programme (PRS) service users. They meet weekly on a Wednesday at Fountain House in Observatory.
Rademeyer said a lot more can be done by the government to support organisations and other mental health institutions.
“Despite efforts, there is still not enough support, especially financial support, from the government. There needs to be a greater investment in mental health.”
He explains that breaking the stigma around mental health conditions is still a major challenge.
“They face stigmatisation from themselves and society. A lot of people might be walking around with a mental health condition and not even realise it. Sometimes their families can’t accept the fact that a family member has a condition.”
He appealed to people to support organisations such as CMH financially and also “opening the conversation to mental health”.
He reiterated that people should reach out and seek help if they have or know of someone with a mental condition.
“There are various organisations. They could reach out to CMH and access anyone of their services available. They are all free.”
