01 February 2022 Media Release: EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME

MEDIA RELEASE:  EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME

For Immediate Release
01 February 2022

The Garden Route district has welcomed two additional registered counsellors who are based in Mossel Bay and Bitou subdistricts.

A registered counsellor has an Honours degree in Psychology with a completed internship as well as registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and are thus highly qualified and equipped in providing preventative and supportive counselling interventions, psycho-education and awareness as well as identification of mental health symptoms and referrals.

‘Although the registered counsellor is a new category of cadre in the Department of Health, they are a welcomed addition to make mental health services more accessible within our communities. One of the goals are to integrate Mental Health services within the Primary Health Care system in order to strengthen the service delivery and make it more accessible within the community,’ said clinical psychologist and programme coordinator, Estelle Crause.

The group of registered counsellors received training in November 2021 on how to facilitate the integration of Mental Health services within the Primary Health Care (PHC) system and on providing a more integrated referral pathway within the PHC. ‘As the awareness and understanding of our role increases, we believe that we will be able to make a significant impact on the service delivery for mental health and this will be a platform for the Registered Counsellors to also be recognised within their category in the mental health context nationally,’ said registered counsellor Carin Olwagen.

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Nadia Ferreira

Principal Communications Officer

Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts

Western Cape Government Health

Tel: 044 813 1831      Caption: Carin Olwagen(Mossel Bay) and Mampe Phoshoko(Bitou).

Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za

Website: www.westerncape.gov.za