PhD awarded for mental health training and education research

26 Jun 2018
26 Jun 2018

Addiction research is a rapidly growing area of neuroscience, and is highly relevant to the South African context. We have the world’s highest prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome, and methamphetamine psychosis accounts for a significant proportion of inpatient psychiatric admissions. UCT Neuroscience Institute work on addictions ranges from basic neuroscience, through to clinical research (e.g. on brain imaging), and on to public health research.

Dr Goodman Sibeko (MBChB, UKZN) has focused his work and research in the last area; he has recently graduated from UCT with a PhD (Psychiatry) that addresses task-shifting interventions, including the training of community health workers, as an approach to solving the human resource shortage in mental health care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Dr Sibeko is using this foundation to build on his current work as Co-Director of UCT’s Addiction Technology Transfer Centre (ATTC). This is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) funded initiative that aims to address the psychosocial determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence, in an effort to contribute to PEPFAR’s 90-90-90 goals by focusing on addictions training and education.

Publications arising from Dr Sibeko’s PhD include:
1. Sibeko, G., et al., Piloting a mental health training programme for community health workers in South Africa: an exploration of changes in knowledge, confidence and attitudes. BMC Psychiatry, 2018. 18(1): p. 191.

2. Sibeko, G., et al., Improving adherence in mental health service users with severe mental illness in South Africa: a pilot randomized controlled trial of a treatment partner and text message intervention vs. treatment as usual. BMC Res Notes, 2017. 10(1): p. 584.

3. Sibeko, G., et al., Caregiving for mental health service users: A study exploring the perceptions of mental health service users and their caregivers in Cape Town, South Africa. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2016. 62(6): p. 512-521.

4. Sibeko, G., Mental Health Training For Community Health Workers in the Western Cape. 2016. Manual. Open UCT.