Page 27 - SAMRC Annual Performance Plan 2026-27

to accurately estimate the proportion of children/ (c) Collaboration with existing population
adolescents in need of psychiatric and psychosocial surveillance networks (e.g. SAPRIN) and
services, and the level (intensity) of intervention research groups or organisations that have
needed, and to identify risk and protective factors to access to child/adolescent cohorts, to pilot and
guide service provision and plan targeted universal validate the survey instrument.
interventions (i.e. prevention strategies).
(d) Develop a protocol and secure ethical
In preparation for the larger national survey, the clearance for a national survey (the details
SAMRC funded preliminary work which covered the of the methodology will be informed by the
following tasks: findings of the pilot study

(a) Systematic review of all studies assessing This preliminary work is being used to leverage
child/adolescent mental health in SA to map funds and support from the SNF Global Centre for
the current state of knowledge, provide an Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child
overview of what instruments are currently Mind Institute, who are working to promote the
being used, identify existing evidence-based mental health young people in low- and middle-
interventions and highlight knowledge gaps. income countries and had laid the foundation for
ongoing collaboration with them. Co-funding of the
(b) Collaboration with the Stavros Niarchos full survey remains an important need.
Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and
Adolescent Mental Health to develop and (c) Fedisa Modikologo: End the Cycle
translate, a culturally appropriate and reliable
instrument to assess 11 common mental health The South African Government adopted a National
problems in children / adolescents at the level Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and
of specific disorders. This collaboration would Femicide (GBVF) in 2020 as a society-wide programme
also be the basis for the SAMRC to form an to systemically end gender-based violence and
integral component of a larger global initiative femicide. This plan involved various sectors such
to promote the mental health of children and as, the safety and security sector, justice sector, the
adolescents worldwide. health sector, civil society. The plan references the
work carried out by the SAMRC on Femicide and is
organised around the following six pillars:

PILLARS OUTCOME
Pillar 1: Accountability, Holding all sectors of the society, including government, the private sector, workplace,
Coordination and education and training institutions, civil society organisations, religious and cultural
Leadership institutions, accountable for building a safe and GBVF free environment.
Pillar 2: Prevention South Africa to make considerable progress in rebuilding social cohesion in ways where GBVF
and Rebuilding Social and violence more broadly is deemed unacceptable.
Cohesion
Pillar 3: Justice, Safety The criminal justice system to provide protection, compassion, respect, support, safety and justice
and Protection for survivors of GBV and femicide and effectively holds perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Pillar 4: Response, Victim-centred and survivor-focused accessible, equitable and quality services are readily
Care, Support and available across the criminal justice system, health system, educational system and social
Healing support system at respective levels OR Improved and expanded response, care and support
services to all women, children and LGBTQIA+ persons who experience gender-based violence
that is standardised, meets their specific needs and contributes towards their healing.
Pillar 5: Economic Women, children and LGBTQIA+ persons are able to be free in public spaces, use transport
Power freely and access resources that enable them to make healthy choices in their lives.
Pillar 6: Research Multi-disciplinary, research and integrated information systems that are nationally coordinated
and Information and decentralised increasingly shapes a strengthened response to GBVF in South Africa.
Management
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