Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services

In the 21st century, violence and conflict remain a reality in many parts of the world. Mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) as a response to this reality have become a vital instrument in addressing the consequences of violence and conflict. At CSVR, we engage in adopting a MHPSS lens to address the consequences of violence and conflict through our direct and indirect services to affected individuals, families and communities to promote their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Our MHPSS intervention responses are informed by research gathered on the ground, reflecting on the lived experiences of victims and their contextual realities and rehabilitation needs.

Our MHPSS intervention responses include:

Addressing the psychosocial components of reparation of victims

Increasing access to MHPSS

Community mobilisation, social cohesion and peacebuilding initiatives

Psychological counselling services (face-to-face or online)

Designing and implementing capacity-building workshops and trainings for organisations

Peer supervision support and mentorship

Capacity building and technical support

CSVR's Multi-tiered Approach to MHPSS

In partnership with various organisations, such as the Global Initiative for Justice, Truth and Reconciliation and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, and with donor support from USAID and Dignity, we are currently involved in the following programmes and projects:

Rehabilitation Project for Survivors of Torture, CIDT and Other Human Rights Violations

With donor support from USAID and Dignity, the focus of this project is to provide MHPSS to victims who have experienced torture, human rights violations and forced migration. The impacts of these experiences are diverse and include biological, psychological and social dimensions. MHPSS interventions include direct psychological support, as well as supporting frontline workers to assist victims through capacity-building and training workshops.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services in Transitional Justice/Peacebuilding

We are part of a global consortium of partners under the International Coalition of Sites of Consciousness, working towards providing MHPSS to victims, frontline workers and organisations on the ground in conflict and post conflict zones. Providing capacity building and training workshops as well peer mentorship and support to promote access to MHPSS and peacebuilding.

Mental Wellbeing and Leadership

In partnership with the Ford Foundation, we provide support to women in leadership positions to promote mental health awareness and wellbeing.

MHPSS Awareness Campaigns

With donor support from USAID and Dignity, we aim to raise awareness around mental health issues in communities by providing platforms for information sharing, dialogue and collaboration. This is done through campaigns such as the Mental Health Imbizo held annually in Mental Health Month (October), infographics that are disseminated on social media platforms, psychoeducation workshops and the CSVR Symposium webinar series.

Addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence

We provide MHPSS to victims of SGBV, raising awareness through psychoeducation groups around the dynamics that feed into SGBV and facilitating access to support in addressing SGBV-related issues.

Our recently concluded projects include:

Mental Health Project

In partnership with UNHCR, this project aimed to provide direct comprehensive mental health and psychosocial services to refugees and asylum seekers (individuals and families) through counselling service provision, case management and psychiatric services, as well as providing indirect psychosocial services to refugees and asylum seekers through community outreach and capacity building initiatives

Rehabilitation Services for Torture Survivors

With funding from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, we provided holistic, multidisciplinary and integrated rehabilitation services to torture survivors in South Africa.

A COVID-19 Response: Addressing the Shadow Pandemic of Sexual and Gender Based Violence within South Africa

In partnership with the Heinrich Boll Stiftung, we addressed SGBV in the country.

Mitigating the Possible Devastating Effects of COVID-19

With support from the Mary Oppenheimer and Daughters Foundation, we undertook mental wellness and psychosocial interventions within South African communities.

Community-led Intervention to Counter Authority-based Violence in South Africa

In partnership with Dignity, this project developed best practise strategies for mobilising and empowering risk groups, communities and other stakeholders to counter authority-based violence in South African communities.

Addressing Torture

With support from the Sigrid Rausing Trust, we strengthened evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for torture in South Africa.

Combating Drivers of Xenophobic Violence in South Africa

With support from Freedom House, we strengthened cooperation among key community actors in 'hot-spot' communities, including community-based organisations, migrant groups and local political and traditional leaders towards combating xenophobic violence and its effects.

Building Supportive Communities towards Violence Prevention through Citizen Participation and Evidence-based Approaches

With support from the Raith Foundation, we conducted an in-depth analysis and evaluation of strengths, gaps and theory of practice in interventions that are being implemented in Kagiso, Marikana, Ekangala and the inner city of Johannesburg