The Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) supports the integration of quality maternal mental health care into mother and child initiatives in low resource settings.
Webinar Details
Wed, 21 April 2021
14.00-15.00 SAST (UTC+2)
13.00-14.00 BST
Speakers
- Rumbi Görgens, Embrace
- Rita Stockhowe, PMHP
- Leisl Hermanus, PMHP
Adjusting and Responding to COVID-19
In this webinar, members of the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) team will discuss the experience of adjusting to digital service offerings during the pandemic. In addition, the PMHP, together with Embrace and other NGOs, established the Messages for Mothers (M4M) coalition to keep mothers informed about COVID-19 using digital channels. This process will be discussed by Embrace’s Rumbi Görgens.
About the PMHP
The Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) addresses the problem of widespread common mental health conditions among antenatal and postpartum women in low resource settings.
We support the integration of quality maternal mental health care into maternal and child initiatives, in low-resource-settings. To accomplish our mission we advocate for action, strengthen health and development systems, generate knowledge and build the capacity of service providers.
The Perinatal Mental Health Project is based at the University of Cape Town, within the Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. We have been operating since 2002 and have received a formal commendation from the World Health Organisation.
Assoc. Prof. Simone Honikman, Director and Founder of PMHP, is a Co-Investigator in the CoMaCH Network.
Liesl joined the PMHP in October 2011 as part of the Hanover Park research team, having completed her psychology internship in Hanover Park through CASE (Community Action towards a Safer Environment). She holds an Honours degree in Psychology (2007) from the University of the Western Cape and is an HPCSA registered counsellor. From 2007 to 2010, Liesl served as a counsellor at the National Responsible Gambling Programme providing support to people with gambling problems and their family members. She was a school counsellor at St Anthony’s Primary School before joining the PMHP. Returning to work in the community of Hanover Park after her internship placement appealed to Liesl, and her familiarity with the particular challenges faced by this community adds enormous value to the PMHP study located here.
Rita Stockhowe | Strategic communication consultant, PMHP
Rita has worked in the field of strategic communication, public & donor relations, advocacy and social mobilization in Asia and the Middle East since 2001. Working as a consultant, she raised funds for the United Nation’s World Food Programme in Thailand, implemented an election awareness campaign in Afghanistan, as well as raised funds for and managed an intercultural dance and theatre project in India. She has also worked in the NGO, private and governmental sector in Cambodia, Tanzania and Germany. She joined the PMHP team in January 2014.
Rumbi Görgens | Operations Manager, Embrace
Rumbi is the operations manager for Embrace, the Movement for Mothers. She is also a feminist author and activist. Her writing has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, Vela Magazine, and on FeministsSA.com and MyFirstTimeSA.com. She has worked with various South African civil society organisations. Find more of her work at Rumbi Writes .