Ekupholeni Mental Health Centre
Khululeka Counselling Programme
South Africa
Background
Ekupholeni Mental Health Centre is a community-based mental health organisation that engages individuals, families and communities in a comprehensive process of healing, recovery and empowerment. Founded in 1992 during the violent political conflicts in the Katorus region of South Africa, Ekupholeni was created to fill the gap in mental health services for people living in townships that had previously been ignored. Soon after the political violence had subsided, the community was forced to face the onslaught of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, leaving little time for any type of healing process to occur.
Ekupholeni recognizes the complex interplay between mental health, HIV/AIDS and poverty, aggravated by ongoing cycles of violence and gender inequality. It understands that emotional factors such as hopelessness, depression, anxiety, and loneliness can compromise a person's immune system and contribute to physical ill health. Ekupholeni strives to inject individuals and their families with a sense of hope, and provide them with some emotional support, medical care, and counselling about good nutrition.
The Project
Ekupholeni's Khululeka Programme, a Zulu term meaning 'To be Free', uniquely addresses the social, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals, particularly women and children, who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Counselling sessions are provided on an individual basis to every person who approaches Ekupholeni for help. Whenever possible, the counselling is extended to involve families so as to create as much support as possible. Patients move to group sessions, usually run on a weekly basis over a period of six months. Ekupholeni's therapeutic approach relies heavily on narrative techniques, helping people discover their strength and resiliency through their own life stories, stories which have often been forgotten in the face of ongoing trauma, deprivation and abuse. Early in the counselling sessions, most stories are characterized by despair and dysfunction. But, as individuals progress through the sessions, they begin to express elements of hope, courage and community that had previously been forgotten.
The Khulukela programme also contains activities and interventions that go beyond the regular group interventions including camps, retreats, healing services, family days, advocacy and research.
With the support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Ekupholeni will:
- Operate an Adult Therapeutic Group Programme for 250 adults living with HIV/AIDS;
- Provide Individual Counselling and Support to 100 individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families;
- Develop and operate a Support Programme for 50 adults in the final stages of AIDS;
- Run and develop ongoing retreats, family days and camps for HIV/AIDS sufferers including two 2-day retreats for 30 adults suffering from HIV/AIDS and two 3-day camps for 35 children infected with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers;
- Document group work programme to enable further evaluation.
SLF Ref#: EKCP.06.16