The subjective experiences of parents of adolescent substance users, their knowledge of and access to available treatment resources

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych)Substance use is certainly not a new phenomenon, however, it is one that remains a significant problem in the lives of adolescents, especially in low-income communities. This phenomenon not only affects the individual and society, but also the family and parents/guardians of the substance user. Parents within low-income contexts may feel overlooked in planning and service delivery initiatives, which may lead to a lack of appropriate knowledge and resources for parents when confronted with a child who uses substances

Navigating and Reimagining Community Engagement amidst COVID-19

Community engagement is a critical manifestation of a humanising approach on how to respond to various psychosocial and structural violence challenges in the context of a pandemic. Community engagement within the context of the current global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) requires creative and innovative responses. Institutions have had to reconfigure their community engagement due to restrictive measures instituted by governments to curb the spread of the virus. This paper aims to reflect on the conversations and experiences of community activist researchers in implementing creative ways of engagement to address pertinent psychosocial and structural violence issues affecting communities during COVID-19. Through a qualitative reflexive approach, we identified the following themes: (1) Challenges in community-engaged research during a pandemic; (2) Structural violence and psychosocial issues; and (3) Innovative opportunities to bridge gaps and confront community realities. The pandemic has produced challenges but has also allowed for opportunities to reimagine community engagement. It has created opportunities and novel ways of collaborating with multisectoral social actors to address the psychosocial challenges during the pandemic and to remain actively engaged with communities

Navigating and Reimagining Community Engagement amidst COVID-19

Community engagement is a critical manifestation of a humanising approach on how to respond to various psychosocial and structural violence challenges in the context of a pandemic. Community engagement within the context of the current global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) requires creative and innovative responses. Institutions have had to reconfigure their community engagement due to restrictive measures instituted by governments to curb the spread of the virus. This paper aims to reflect on the conversations and experiences of community activist researchers in implementing creative ways of engagement to address pertinent psychosocial and structural violence issues affecting communities during COVID-19. Through a qualitative reflexive approach, we identified the following themes: (1) Challenges in community-engaged research during a pandemic; (2) Structural violence and psychosocial issues; and (3) Innovative opportunities to bridge gaps and confront community realities. The pandemic has produced challenges but has also allowed for opportunities to reimagine community engagement. It has created opportunities and novel ways of collaborating with multisectoral social actors to address the psychosocial challenges during the pandemic and to remain actively engaged with communities.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

Stimulating and building compassionate and humanising networks for promoting sustainable safer and healthier communities: Researcher reflexivity on the Local Network of Care (LNOC)

There is a current burgeoning interest in networking as an approach to working more effectively in under-resourced communities. This study explores networking as a critical strategy to strengthen relationships among social actors and mobilise assets and resources to address challenges of health, safety, injury, and social justice in disadvantaged communities. The Local Network of Care (LNOC), is used as an illustration, to reflect on the operational processes and values of the network to engender and build just and sustainable safer communities. Primary sources of data include newspaper clippings, LNOC social contract, institutional annual reports, monthly agendas, attendance registers, and reflective notes of members of the LNOC. The findings illustrate that building a humanising, cohesive, supportive and trusting network can contribute to strengthening agency and transforming individuals and organisations. Additionally, it can contribute to sustainability, building safer and just communities, and mobilise assets and resources of the network to help mitigate psychosocial and economic challenges

Stimulating and building compassionate and humanising networks for promoting sustainable safer and healthier communities: Researcher reflexivity on the Local Network of Care (LNOC)

There is a current burgeoning interest in networking as an approach to working more effectively in under-resourced communities. This study explores networking as a critical strategy to strengthen relationships among social actors and mobilise assets and resources to address challenges of health, safety, injury, and social justice in disadvantaged communities. The Local Network of Care (LNOC), is used as an illustration, to reflect on the operational processes and values of the network to engender and build just and sustainable safer communities. Primary sources of data include newspaper clippings, LNOC social contract, institutional annual reports, monthly agendas, attendance registers, and reflective notes of members of the LNOC. The findings illustrate that building a humanising, cohesive, supportive and trusting network can contribute to strengthening agency and transforming individuals and organisations. Additionally, it can contribute to sustainability, building safer and just communities, and mobilise assets and resources of the network to help mitigate psychosocial and economic challengesInstitute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS