The SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders– with key researchers at the University of Stellenbosch, the University of Cape Town (UCT) and North-West University – does research on anxiety and stress, and substance and behavioral addictions, amongst others. It is also involved in projects in related fields, including the Drakenstein Neurodevelopmental and Neuro-GAP studies.
Key focus areas
- Promoting the use of basic science and clinical research to improve the diagnosis, prevention and management of mental disorders in South Africa;
- Prioritising the risk and resilience factors in mental disorders;
- Applying clinical evidence to real-world settings to improve mental health interventions through primary healthcare and community initiatives;
- Adding to existing research on mental disorders and mental health to benefit South Africans and Africans;
- Developing new research programmes focused on studies that can be applied in real-world settings;
- Working with other organisations and groups to address major mental disorders in Africa;
- Training and supporting Clinician Scientists who specialise in mental disorders and mental health; and
- Promoting the use of psychiatry and mental health research findings in policy-making and in practice
This unit serves as a central structure providing oversight and coordination of several studies in mental disorders and mental health. It also serves as the foundation for expanding these research initiatives and fostering capacity development through the training of clinician-scientists.
Students, post-doctoral fellows and others should contact the unit if interested in our work:
Prof Dan J. Stein: Dan.Stein@uct.ac.za
Prof Christine Lochner: CL2@sun.ac.za
Prof Nastassja Koen: Nastassja.koen@uct.ac.za
A key initiative of the unit is the Mental Health Information Centre of Southern Africa (MHIC), which promotes mental health awareness and provides a 24-hour turnaround telephone support service.
