A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS (COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY) at the UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND, 2007. / Zululand, the north eastern area of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa is characterized by its diversity in development. This resulted from historical imbalances that were enforced by the Apartheid system and so, typifying South Africa with its unlevelled development. With large parts of the region being underdeveloped, the Zululand Mental Health Community Psychology Programme (ZMHCPP) was formally established in 1994 in response to the high demands for local community psychological services in the area. For the programme to stay updated and effective, constant evaluation is necessary. This will allow the programme to build upon its strengths as well as respond to short comings and new emerging needs. This qualitative study investigated the ZMHCPP from an appreciative perspective. It records valuable aspects of the ZMHCPP and identifies challenges and opportunities for improvement. Findings in this study were guided by relevant stakeholders 7 first hand experiences of the ZMHCPP. Participants' experiences of the ZMHCPP were generally positive. The programme was mainly appreciated for the essential services it provides to the community and the fact that it also indirectly contributes to the profession of Community Psychology by creating opportunities for intern training and research. While the ZMHCPP was appreciated for providing psychological services at affordable rates, the need for funding to secure adequate resources and to sustain itself was expressed. This dilemma highlighted the greatest challenge for the programme. It is hoped that this research project will encourage government and potential donors / sponsors to further realise the value of the programme and provide financial support. / National Research Foundation

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This literature review follows the early origins of the integration of psychological services into Primary Health Care (PHC) to its promulgation by law under the new dispensation in South Africa post-1994. With a recent re-commitment in 2008 by government to PHC for health service delivery, the biomedical orientation of PHC is inherently problematic as the location for psychological services and runs contrary to a comprehensive discourse of care as envisioned locally and by the World Health Organisation (WHO). With such shifts in policy at a macro level and in a context in which the relevance of psychological theorising and praxis is under scrutiny, this review has highlighted that a bottom-up approach is necessitated; specifically one that will facilitate a convergence between policy, theory and practice, with its foundations informed by research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie literatuuroorsig begin by die vroeë beginpunt waar sielkundige dienste by Primêre Gesondheidsorg (PHC) ingelyf is, en volg die gebeure tot waar nuwe wetgewing hieroor in die nuwe post-1994-dispensasie in Suid-Afrika uitgevaardig is. Met die regering wat homself in 2008 herverbind het tot PHC vir gesondheiddiensverskaffing is die biomediese fokus van PHC vir sielkundige dienste inherent problematies, omdat dit in teenstelling met omvattende diskoers oor versorging staan, soos dit plaaslik en deur die Wêreldgesondheidsorgorganisasie (WHO) in die vooruitsig gestel word. Met makrovlakverskuiwings in beleid en in konteks waarin die toepaslikheid van teoretisering en praktyk op die gebied van die sielkunde onder die loep is, beklemtoon hierdie verslag dit dat onder-na-bo-benadering nodig is; spesifiek een wat sameloping tussen beleid, teorie en praktyk sal fasiliteer, en wat gegrond is op navorsing.