The organization engages with individuals, families and communities in a comprehensive, holistic process of healing, recovery, and empowerment. The organization was established in 1994 by a psychologist who was employed by the Department of Health; it was established as a response to the potentially long-term effects of trauma caused by community violence and killings.
Empowering communities through holistic healing and social justice.
The community members suffered a tremendous political violence during the 1980s, during which thousands of people died, some were injured and displaced. The outcome of this political violence coupled with social problems such as poverty, family breakdowns, HIV/AIDS and overall community instability traumatized the whole community.
The organization’s first clients were boys/ young men from the former self-defence units, who had to deal with the trauma of violence and war-like conditions which they had experienced during the pre-election period in the 1990s.
The Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre operates as a nonprofit. The organization facilitates a thorough and all-encompassing process of healing, recovery, and empowerment for individuals, families, and communities. The organization’s mission is to engage individuals, families, and communities in distress in a comprehensive, holistic process of healing, recovery, and empowerment. It was founded in 1994 by a psychologist working for the Department of Health in response to the potential long-term effects of trauma caused by community violence and killings. Extreme political violence in the early 1990s led to the organization’s founding, and it has since changed constantly to meet the region’s shifting requirements. In the 1980s, the town saw extreme political violence, with thousands of people.
The organization has prior experience promoting social justice, gender equality, enhancing HIV response in communities, and/or developing social and behavior change communication programs. The organization’s programmes are preventative, developmental, accessible, inexpensive, appropriate, cost-effective, and outcome focused. As part of its interventions, the organization engages victims of crime and sexual violence in long-term social and economic development initiatives aimed at improving their quality of life through extensive assessments, counselling, and referral.
In South Africa, the organization is a key actor in alleviating trauma caused by gender-based violence. We provide comprehensive psychosocial support services through stakeholder involvement and collaboration with the Departments of Health, Social Development, and the National Prosecuting Authority. We assist survivors in effectively dealing with the trauma of living with the fact that they were sexually raped. Overall, the programme is gender-based. We provide psychosocial support services to persons who have experienced trauma as a result of violation or trauma. In 2017, the organization was identified as the number one in South Africa that was able to perform outcome-based court preparations for sexually assaulted children, which led to the Palrmridge High Court being the number one in South Africa to prosecute these cases
The organization has experience in promoting social justice, gender equality, strengthening community response to HIV, and/or promotion of social and behaviour change communication programming. Ekupholeni MHTC has vast understanding and experience in community development, social facilitation, and community mobilization.
Furthermore, the organization can use evidence-based approaches to promote social justice and gender equality and improving linkages between health facilities and communities.
Is to be a psycho-social service provider of choice where communities receive holistic quality services that are aimed at promoting a total well being of individuals and families to be self-sustainable.
Ekupholeni MHTC is a place of healing that strives to render diverse, quality, and holistic customised services that are integrated in promoting the social functioning of the society.
Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre is non- profit organization. The organization engages in individuals, families, and communities in a comprehensive, holistic process of healing, recovery, and empowerment.
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and inspiring stories!