MHM Magazine

42 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 2022 | Issue 5 MHM Creating a great scorecard Health system scorecards are important tools used by policy- makers, government officials and health facility managers to plot the strategic direction of a given health care system or service. Treatment goals are set out in a given scorecard, and then measured to ascertain the efficacy of a facility or system. Scorecard goals are determined by considering how to best meet community needs. It’s easier to set health care goals when an illness or ailment is visible. Less visible challenges, such as mental disorders, are difficult to treat, measure and capture within the scorecard system. It’s often impossible to measure hospital admissions for mental health challenges due to under-reporting, under-diagnosis, community-level stigma and the complexity inherent to certain comorbid conditions. Good mental health scorecards record how many people have gained access to specific services. Great mental health scorecards start with an overview of community mental health. The difference between a good and great scorecard depends on how much is drawn from the grassroots level. A mental health profile of 1,175 township residents in Diepsloot and Ivory Park, based on research commissioned by the SADAG, has taken us one step closer to Community Mental Health Scorecard development in South Africa. This profile consisted of a listing of major challenges, degrees of associated psychological distress, sources of information regarding mental health, mental health care access and the identification of community needs relating to mental health. Take a step back: look at challenges before considering mental health barometers. Dr Bronwyn Dworzanowski-Venter Senior research associate Faculty of Humanities, UJ bjd2006@gmail.com NEW STUDY REVEALS THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE FIRST MENTAL HEALTH SCORECARD FOR SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIPS Impact of Covid-19 | 19% Top five difficulties experienced in 2021 1 2 3 4 5 Crime | 86% Unemployment | 72% Substance abuse | 31% Lack of adequate housing | 28% 1: 86% 2: 72% 3: 31% 4: 28% 5: 19%