MHM Magazine

32 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 2022 | Issue 4 MHM Every year the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town tracks progress for South Africa’s children through the South African Child Gauge . This year’s report brought together researchers, policy makers and practitioners from across the country to provide an in-depth analysis of child and adolescent mental health, and inform evidenced- based policies, programmes and services for children. This article reflects on some of the key findings and recommendations. Beyond the mind: environment matters in mental health We know that the environments in which young people live have a powerful impact on their mental health. Yet 25 years into our constitutional democracy, poverty, inequality and violence continue to erode children’s mental health with two-thirds (63%) of children in South Africa living below the poverty line, and nearly 1 in 2 children experiencing violence in their homes, schools, and/or communities. These social determinants of health frequently co-occur, giving rise to multiple adverse childhood experiences that leave many young people and their families trapped in an intergenerational cycle of poverty, violence and ill health. While there are no national prevalence data, an estimated 10-20% of South African children and adolescents will develop a mental disorder or neurodevelopmental disability. Yet only one in 10 children with a diagnosable and treatable mental disorder is able to access care. Given that over 50% of adult mental disorders have their origins before age 14, prevention and early intervention are essential – starting even pre-conception and extending through to adolescence Mental health support should begin early While discussions around mental health often focus on mental disorders and medical treatment, the Child Gauge adopts a broader view By Lori Lake, Communication and Education Specialist, Children’s Institute, UCT Professor Mark Tomlinson, Co-Director, Institute for Life Course Health Research, SU Professor Sharon Kleintjes, Vera Grove Chair of Intellectual Disability, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, UCT REFLECTIONS FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHILD GAUGE 2021/22 GAUGING PROGRESS AND SETTING AN AGENDA FOR CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH