Mental health support programme launched for NPOs
NPOwer will provide psychological first aid to NPO leaders, staff and volunteers - many of whom are experiencing unprecedented strain and burnout caused by Covid-19.
The first ever NPO Mental Health Support Programme and 24-hour toll-free Helpline to offer mental health care and support to all NPOs has just been launched in South Africa.
Known as NPOwer, this initiative sees Tshikululu Social Investments partnering with South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) to provide psychological first aid to NPO leaders, staff and volunteers – many of whom are experiencing unprecedented strain and burnout caused by Covid-19.
While the pandemic has had a significant impact on NPOs from an operations and funding perspective, it is the mental health of those involved within the NPO sector that is particularly concerning, which has resulted in the launch of this NPO specific mental health support programme.
“The pandemic has resulted in various pervasive fears and negative psychological effects on individuals, resulting in a need for more psychosocial support to affected communities,” said Dipalesa Mpye, a social investment specialist at Tshikululu Social Investments.
“This of course, applies not only to individuals and communities being served by NPOs, but to the employees and volunteers of these organisations themselves.”
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“Our research has shown that NPOs are struggling with a myriad of issues including instability and uncertainty around financial support, challenges in retaining staff , as well as having to navigate the devastating impact of Covid on the communities that they serve.”
Cassey Chambers, operations director at SADAG, stated that NPO teams are overworked, face trauma and lack resources daily.
“With so many pandemic-related issues, some NPOs have been forced to close their doors and stop the valuable work they have been providing when communities need it the most,” she said.
“NPOs have always provided help, resources and support to others, but never before has the mental health of our NPOs been prioritised.”
The launch of this psychological support programme will also make the effects of the Covid- 19 pandemic on NPO teams’ collective mental health a priority.
SADAG put on record numerous calls since the start of lockdown from people feeling anxious, lonely, worried and depressed or stressed about a combination of issues including the spread of Covid-19, finances, relationship problems, job security, grief, gender-based violence and trauma.
The NPOwer programme will include a dedicated 24-hour NPO mental health and psychosocial support helpline manned by a team of dedicated counsellors, capacity workshops on NPO related issues, a dedicated website to house multiple resources and the implementation of a Support Network between NPOs.
The tollfree NPOwer helpline will be open 24/7 with counselling available in all 11 official languages and is now live on 0800 515 515. Messages can also be sent to a dedicated SMS line on 43010 or to info@npowersa.org More details about NPOwer can be found HERE.
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