About

The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) South Africa

Our Work in South Africa

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) is an initiative launched by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI). In partnership with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), local universities, experts, civil society organizations, and local communities, CAMHI works to strengthen youth mental health systems across the country. We aim to expand access to effective mental health services and resources, build the capacity of professionals and community-based workers, and promote innovative, culturally responsive solutions to support the mental wellbeing of young people.

A snapshot of the work we are doing together
At CAMHI, we are working alongside passionate partners, from government departments to local NGOs to reimagine what youth mental health care can look like in South Africa.

Support for this work is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI).

Mapping Child and Adolescent Mental Health

In partnership with the SAMRC and global experts, we have worked with local partners to conduct systematic reviews showcasing the existing research on child and adolescent mental health. These reviews identify what is known, highlight key knowledge gaps, and inform future research priorities. You can view one of the systematic reviews in Drug and Alcohol Review here.

National Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey

To better understand young people’s mental health, we are working with the National Department of Health, SAMRC, and international collaborators to create South Africa’s first national youth mental health survey. This groundbreaking study will inform policy and planning. Data collection is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.

Understanding Adolescent Mental Health and Care-Seeking

In collaboration with George Washington University, SAMRC, and Community Keepers, CAMHI is conducting a qualitative study on adolescent decision-making around mental health care. The research involves interviews and workshops with adolescents, caregivers, educators, clinicians, and policymakers, and aims to guide service design and policy. Data collection, analysis and write-up will be finalised in December 2026.

Assessing Mental Health Training Needs of Frontline Workers

Working with Grassroot Soccer, an adolescent health organization, and the SAMRC, we are exploring ways to support the training needs of frontline community-based workers supporting children and adolescents. Together, we have co-developed resources to help identify, refer, and support young people with common mental health challenges.

This training is delivered through the Near-to-Peer Emotional Support Programme, which has been rolled out across South Africa to equip community members and frontline workers with the skills needed to support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. Training commenced in March 2026, and the evaluation results are expected later in 2026.

Supporting Educators

CAMHI is collaborating with the National Department of Basic Education, Africa Health Research Institute, SAMRC, and educators to co-develop mental health training programs for educators and learner support agents. The goal is to develop resources to help identify and support young people with common mental health challenges. The asynchronous (online) Psychosocial Support Programme Mental Health Literacy for Educators training resources will be available before the end of 2026.

Screening Tools for Learning and Developmental Difficulties
We are working with the National Department of Basic Education, Africa Health Research Institute, educators, child development experts and neuropsychologists to develop, pilot and evaluate a new screening tool to assist with early identification of children who require educational support and accommodations. A prototype will be piloted in mid- 2026.
Strengthening Community Health Workers

In collaboration with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Research in Health Systems, we are developing training resources and tools to help community health workers (CHWs) identify children in need of mental health referrals. Development is underway, with piloting and validation planned for 2026.

Philani Cohort Multi-Modal Brain-Body Imaging (MoBI) Lab

Partnering with Stellenbosch University’s Institute for Life Course Health Research and Department of Psychiatry, this project uses cutting-edge methods, including virtual reality and brain-body imaging to explore how early life experiences affect adolescent development. Data will be collected from the long-running Philani cohort. The MoBI lab will launch in late 2025.

Strengthening Community-Based Organisations

CAMHI is co-creating training resources with organisations like The School of Hard Knocks, Waves for Change, Grassroot Soccer and Community Keepers. These training materials will help frontline workers deliver context-sensitive, evidence-based mental health support. Materials will be freely available after development and testing in 2025.

Virtual Mental Health Care – e-CARE

In collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Community Keepers, e-CARE aims to explore whether online mental health support can help children and adolescents with common mental health challenges.

The intervention model includes online assessments, psychoeducation, a Single Session Intervention (SSI), and brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) delivered through a stepped-care framework, meaning children and families receive the level of care that best matches their needs. To understand how well this approach works, the team will conduct a three-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing different CBT interventions delivered through secure video consultations. Data collection is expected to begin in mid-2026.

SNF Global Centre Fellowships
The SNF Global Centre Fellowships are aimed at identifying and supporting emerging leaders in child and adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as defined by the world bank. These fellowships offer life-changing opportunities and empower individuals to make a meaningful impact in their communities through research, clinical care, and communication.
Mapping Child and
Adolescent Mental Health

In partnership with the SAMRC and global experts, we have worked with local partners to conduct systematic reviews showcasing the existing research on child and adolescent mental health. These reviews identify what is known, highlight key knowledge gaps, and inform future research priorities. You can view one of the systematic reviews in Drug and Alcohol Review here.

National Child and
Adolescent Mental Health Survey

To better understand young people’s mental health, we are working with the National Department of Health, SAMRC, and international collaborators to create South Africa’s first national youth mental health survey. This groundbreaking study will inform policy and planning. Data collection is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.

Understanding Adolescent
Mental Health and Care-Seeking

In collaboration with George Washington University, SAMRC, and Community Keepers, CAMHI is conducting a qualitative study on adolescent decision-making around mental health care. The research involves interviews and workshops with adolescents, caregivers, educators, clinicians, and policymakers, and aims to guide service design and policy. Data collection, analysis and write-up will be finalised in December 2026.

Assessing Mental Health
Training Needs of Frontline Workers

Working with Grassroot Soccer, an adolescent health organization, and the SAMRC, we are exploring ways to support the training needs of frontline community-based workers supporting children and adolescents. Together, we have co-developed resources to help identify, refer, and support young people with common mental health challenges.

This training is delivered through the Near-to-Peer Emotional Support Programme, which has been rolled out across South Africa to equip community members and frontline workers with the skills needed to support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. Training commenced in March 2026, and the evaluation results are expected later in 2026.

Supporting Educators

CAMHI is collaborating with the National Department of Basic Education, Africa Health Research Institute, SAMRC, and educators to co-develop mental health training programs for educators and learner support agents. The goal is to develop resources to help identify and support young people with common mental health challenges. The asynchronous (online) Psychosocial Support Programme Mental Health Literacy for Educators training resources will be available before the end of 2026.

Screening Tools for Learning and Developmental Difficulties

We are working with the National Department of Basic Education, Africa Health Research Institute, educators, child development experts and neuropsychologists to develop, pilot and evaluate a new screening tool to assist with early identification of children who require educational support and accommodations. A prototype will be piloted in mid- 2026.

Strengthening
Community Health Workers

In collaboration with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Research in Health Systems, we are developing training resources and tools to help community health workers (CHWs) identify children in need of mental health referrals. Development is underway, with piloting and validation planned for 2026.

Philani Cohort Multi-Modal
Brain-Body Imaging (MoBI) Lab

Partnering with Stellenbosch University’s Institute for Life Course Health Research and Department of Psychiatry, this project uses cutting-edge methods, including virtual reality and brain-body imaging to explore how early life experiences affect adolescent development. Data will be collected from the long-running Philani cohort. The MoBI lab will launch in late 2025.

Strengthening
Community-Based Organisations

CAMHI is co-creating training resources with organisations like The School of Hard Knocks, Waves for Change, Grassroot Soccer and Community Keepers. These training materials will help frontline workers deliver context-sensitive, evidence-based mental health support. Materials will be freely available after development and testing in 2025.

Virtual Mental Health Care – e-CARE

In collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Community Keepers, e-CARE aims to explore whether online mental health support can help children and adolescents with common mental health challenges.

The intervention model includes online assessments, psychoeducation, a Single Session Intervention (SSI), and brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) delivered through a stepped-care framework, meaning children and families receive the level of care that best matches their needs. To understand how well this approach works, the team will conduct a three-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing different CBT interventions delivered through secure video consultations. Data collection is expected to begin in mid-2026.

SNF Global Centre Fellowships

The SNF Global Centre Fellowships are aimed at identifying and supporting emerging leaders in child and adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as defined by the world bank. These fellowships offer life-changing opportunities and empower individuals to make a meaningful impact in their communities through research, clinical care, and communication.

"Effective, accessible and affordable mental healthcare is the right of every child in South Africa. By safeguarding the mental health of our nation's youth, we uphold the values of human dignity, equality, justice, and hope - principles that form the bedrock of our constitution. Let us unite in our mission to protect and promote the mental health of every child in South Africa. This is not just a responsibility; it is our collective duty."
Prof. Jason Bantjes
South African Medical Research Council

Our mission

To improve child and adolescent mental well-being in South Africa by collaborating with partners to develop, adapt and evaluate resources, information and programmes that increase access to effective and appropriate mental health prevention, assessment, and treatment services for young people.

"Mental health and wellbeing means having a healthy mindset that allows you to make informed choices about how you choose to show up in society. It's being able to respond instead of reacting to life's situations."
Busisa Xulu, Age 20
South Africa Federation for Mental Health, Youth Forum

Our vision

A nation where every child, adolescent, and family has access to affordable evidence-based mental health care, reliable information about mental wellbeing, and is free from mental health related stigma and discrimination.

Our values

Youth-centred
We are committed to putting young people at the centre of all our programmes and decision-making. To this end, we seek to strengthen systems which focus on prevention, early identification and effective treatments that centre the needs of children and adolescents. Most mental health problems arise in childhood but are frequently overlooked and left untreated, which often leads to long-term serious mental and physical health problems which persist into adulthood. Focusing on youth mental health is essential to building the health of the nation.
Equity
Every child and adolescent has a right to affordable and effective mental health care, yet access to quality resources and services has not been equitable. Structural inequalities, income disparity, a shortage of mental health care providers, and geographic isolation are just a few of the barriers to care. We are committed to increasing access to evidence-based treatments and reliable resources for all young people in South Africa. To this end, we are focused on finding scalable and sustainable interventions which benefit young people who are most in need of care. Additionally, we make all our resources, training materials, programmes, interventions and assessment tools freely available to everyone.
Consultation
We value consultation and actively seek input from young people, individuals with lived experience, communities and groups which have an interest in the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents. When it comes to mental health, we believe no one person or group has all the answers. To find meaningful, culturally relevant and responsive interventions we need to hear from diverse groups and consult widely.
Collaboration
We value collaboration and partnerships. The mental health of young people is shaped by a wide range of biological, economic, political, social, cultural and psychological factors. Effective solutions are only possible through collaboration with communities, civil society and government. Advances in youth mental health are only possible with Intersectoral collaboration, transdisciplinary approaches, and strong community partnerships.
Scientific rigour

Our work is informed by rigorous science and the best available evidence. We value working with local and international scientists and a range of experts from different fields to develop, adapt and evaluate culturally appropriate and context sensitive resources and interventions. We are committed to developing resources and training materials that embrace a variety of approaches, and which are supported by scientific evidence. Furthermore, we are committed to rigorous evaluation of programmes to ensure that they are effective.

Breaking the silence

We are committed to raising awareness about youth mental health needs and reducing stigma and discrimination against young people with mental health conditions. Central to our work is advocating for young people’s right to evidence-based, age-appropriate, culturally informed, affordable, and acceptable mental healthcare. We are working to widen conversation, amplify voices, challenge myths, reduce stigma and provide reliable information about child and adolescent mental health.

Our aims

1

Increase access to effective, affordable, culturally appropriate services to prevent and treat child and adolescent mental health problems.

2

Strengthen multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships with communities and people with lived experience to promote child and adolescent mental health in South Africa.

3

Raise awareness of child and adolescent mental health and advocate for young people’s rights to access mental healthcare and be free from discrimination because of mental health conditions.

4

Enhance capacity for delivering science-supported mental health care.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health in South Africa

Although there is a lack of reliable data about child and adolescent mental health in South Africa, we know that there is a large unmet need for child and adolescent mental health services. For a variety of historic, political, economic and sociocultural reasons, child and adolescent mental health has been neglected and there is inequitable access to effective treatments. Child and adolescent mental healthcare services are chronically underfunded in the public sector and services provided by the private sector are unaffordable for the vast majority of the country’s population. There is also a significant shortage of mental health professionals with expertise in providing evidence-based treatments for young people.

Although the country has the highest number of child and adolescent psychiatry specialists in sub-Saharan Africa (fewer than 60), access remains deeply unequal. Few specialists work in the public sector, and there are just five funded training posts nationally. Some rural provinces report as few as 0.08 psychiatrists per 100,000 population.

Despite these challenges, progress is being made through national policies, growing recognition of mental health as a fundamental human right, and political will to make changes. The science of child and adolescent mental health is also rapidly advancing, and a range of effective treatments are available to support the mental well-being of young people. We also understand that young people’s mental health is shaped by a host of social, economic and contextual factors, including inequality, poverty, food insecurity, violence, trauma, bullying and other adverse childhood events.

We know what needs to be done, the challenge now is to build intersectoral collaboration and meaningful partnerships to scale up access to effective mental health prevention and treatment services and increase access to reliable evidence-based information and resources.

Through key partnerships and collaborations, CAMHI South Africa strives to contribute to building a nation where every child, adolescent, and family has access to affordable evidence-based mental health care and reliable, stigma-free information about mental wellbeing.

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