As the oldest mental health organisation in South Africa and a founding member of the World Federation for Mental Health (formed in London in 1948),
CAPE MENTAL HEALTH is proud of the ground-breaking work it has done in the past 111 years since its inception in 1913.

At Cape Mental Health, we believe that all children have a right to education, regardless of their intellectual disability. Four out of every 100 South Africans are
affected by some level of intellectual disability that can range from mild (learners with special educational needs) to profound (those with the inability to walk, talk, feed themselves or use the toilet). Children a ected by intellectual disability are not ill and cannot be cured, and many require lifelong care or support.

Cape Mental Heath’s Special Education & Care programme is aimed at planning and implementing suitable interventions to meet the special needs of each child. This is achieved by an appropriate assessment, an Individual Support Plan, and consistent implementation. The education of a child with such severe disabilities is facilitated through play and, in many cases, through a sensory curriculum.

Emphasis is also placed on the acquisition of life skills such as eating, toileting, washing, dressing, and good social interaction. The programme operates within a structure that supplements daily nutrition, provides school transport, and a ords access to medical and therapeutic support from local hospitals and other NGOs.

Primary caregivers and guardians of the children are empowered through guidance and capacity building to develop their coping skills and better manage their particular home circumstances. Ongoing support is provided by the sta  at our centres and, where needed, in more depth by our teams of social workers in the various areas.