Page 50 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

South Africans by promoting the right to accessible, and cannabis position paper, the Department of
acceptable and affordable healthcare. Health's foodstuffs labelling regulations and to
Parliament (National Council of Provinces) on the
We have also actively used the epidemiological data Road Traffic Amendment Bill. Internationally, we
we collected to advocate for policies, resources and made submissions on alcohol policy reform in Kenya,
appropriate legislation to curb the harmful effects drug abuse trends in South Africa for inclusion
of substance use and promote mental wellbeing in the UN World Drug Report, and on synthetic
of all South Africans. Our staff also developed, drug monitoring as part of the Global Coalition to
implemented a Psychological First Aid training address Synthetic Drug Threats. We also provided
module for medical undergraduate students, input to the WHO guidelines on media reporting
thus promoting the capacity of doctors to deliver of suicides, participated in the Lancet commission
psychological first aid in emergencies. on problematic internet use, and gave input on the

Science for creating a WHO guidelines for Mental Health in the Workplace.
healthier society In celebration of 30 years of

MASTRU staff presented research findings to democracy in South Africa
the media in 2023/24 through over 40 interviews Through research and the translation of research,
covering of topics including alcohol use and harm, MASTRU is committed to better understanding
adolescent cannabis use, and tobacco legislation. the burden of mental health and substance use
The results of the Psychosocial Rehabilitation on society and how best to reduce this burden to
& Peer Support for People with Schizophrenia support the optimal development of our human
in South Africa (PRIZE) study were presented to capital and use of the country's resources.
the Nelson Mandela Bay District Department of
Health and feedback given to the Western Cape We also reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all
Department of Health on links between alcohol and South Africans have access to acceptable, affordable,
TB. The Alcohol Diagnostic Validation for Injury- and evidence-based treatments for substance use
Related Trauma (AVIRT) study held a seminar at and mental health problems. Furthermore, the
Mitchell's Plain District hospital to provide feedback unit is dedicated to empowering young individuals
to stakeholders. We provided inputs at various levels pursuing research careers in psychology and public
to policy development. At a provincial level we health, particularly those historically marginalised
made submissions on the Western Cape Minimum or impacted by the remnants of the apartheid era,
Unit Pricing policy and provincial liquor licensing in the field of research science. We intend to build
fees. Nationally we gave input in the legislative capacity, equipping them with the necessary tools,
process for the Tobacco Products and Electronic knowledge, and opportunities to excel in scientific
Delivery Systems Control Bill, the Department of inquiry in the mental health and substance use
Social Development's substance disorders policy disorder fields.

The two Peer Advisory Board groups.

48 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24