Page 55 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

P E R FOR M A NC E I N FOR M A T I ON

Mental Health, Alcohol,
Substance Use and Tobacco

Research Unit

UNIT DIRECTOR:
Prof. Jason Bantjes
Jason.bantjes@mrc.ac.za

Overview of the Research Unit Key Milestones and Achievements

The Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use and MASTRU addresses vital gaps in evidence,
Tobacco Research Unit (MASTRU) conducts surveillance, and service delivery that hinder South
rigorous, policy-responsive research and advocacy Africa’s response to mental health and substance
to promote mental health and reduce substance- use issues throughout the lifespan. These include
related harm in South Africa. Guided by a public limited access to evidence-based care, especially
health and equity-focused approach, the Unit for children and adolescents; weak surveillance
addresses the social, economic, structural, systems; inadequate translation of research into
contextual and biological determinants of mental policy and practice; and a lack of locally relevant
health and substance use.
data to inform prevention, treatment, and health
MASTRU’s strategic research programme focuses system strengthening.
on epidemiological studies to produce high-quality
population-level evidence on the prevalence, During the past year, MASTRU achieved several
distribution, and determinants of mental health important milestones. A major accomplishment
conditions and substance use, guiding national was the establishment of the South African Child
surveillance, planning, and resource distribution. and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI),
The unit also develops and validates culturally in partnership with the Child Mind Institute’s
suitable, psychometrically strong assessment Global Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental
tools for application across South Africa’s diverse Health. CAMHI brings together young people,
linguistic and social settings. researchers, policymakers, civil society and
In addition, MASTRU designs and evaluates mental health professionals to improve access to
behavioural interventions within a precision evidence-based care, supported by the launch
medicine framework to support more targeted of the CAMHI South Africa website as a national
prevention and treatment strategies. Through information hub.
implementation research, the Unit strengthens the
translation of evidence into practice and supports The Unit strengthened surveillance capacity
the integration of evidence-based interventions through the expansion of the South African
into health and social service systems. Through Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use
its integrated programme of research and active (SACENDU) to include treatment quality indicators
engagement with policymakers, practitioners and and enhanced monitoring of emerging drug
communities, MASTRU seeks to influence policy trends. Planning also continued for South Africa’s
and practice to sustainably improve population first national child and adolescent mental health
mental health and reduce substance-related harm. survey, scheduled for completion in 2026.

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