Amagqirha (Xhosa diviners) and the treatment of mental illness: exploring indigenous healing practices and the potential for integrating indigenous knowledge into psychology training
- Authors: Klaas, Fihliwe
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Mental illness -- Treatment , Psychology -- Africa , Healers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69860 , vital:78042
- Description: This study focuses on Amagqirha kwa Xhosa (diviners) who are traditional healers within the Xhosa community. Despite their impact and footprint in the communities, there is limited knowledge regarding their role in managing mental health illnesses, particularly the kind of techniques they employ. In light of this, the study is aimed at exploring the types of techniques and interventions utilized by Amagqirha kwa Xhosa in treating psychological problems and assessing how the knowledge can be incorporated into the training of psychologists. The study employed a qualitative approach with semi-structured one-on-one interviews, using purposive and snowballing sampling strategies. Eight traditional healers from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, Eastern Cape, participated in the study, and thematic data analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Two primary themes were revealed in Amagqirha’s experiences with treating mental illness, and the first set core themes are 1. Ukuxilonga (Diagnosing) and 2. Izinto ngokwa ses’Xhoseni ezenza ingulo ye ngqondo (Xhosa Realities and Causes of Mental Illnesses). The second set of core themes revealed Amagqirha’s treatment methods and interventions, and these are 1.Indlela Zokunyanga Zesintu (Tradition Methods of Healing) and 2.Impawu zoxilongo olunemiphumela zobuGqirha (Treatment efficacy in traditional healing). The findings highlight the importance of recognizing diverse knowledge systems in Mental Health care, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches that respect and take into account cultural context and spirituality of the community/patients. Additionally, the study provides guidelines for mental health practitioners when dealing with clients who align with paradigms other than the Western biomedical paradigm or worldview, highlighting the importance of integrating varying paradigms in approaching mental health practice. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-12
Card games and containment : forensic psychiatric patients' experiences of a student-led initiative
- Authors: Higgins, Jane Marie
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Fort England Hospital Buddy Programme -- Grahamstown -- South Africa , Card games -- Therapeutic use , Mental illness -- Treatment , Mentally ill -- Rehabilitation , Group psychotherapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3243 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013314
- Description: Despite South African forensic psychiatric institutions operating well over capacity, the urgent need for rehabilitation guidelines is neglected through lack of research in this area. This is further compounded by the constrained financial and professional resources available to the sector. The Fort England Hospital Buddy Programme (FEHBP) is a voluntary social and activity-based initiative involving 2 hourly visits between students and male forensic psychiatric patient volunteers. Through the use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 1996), the participants’ experience of the programme was further contextualised within their lives pre and post admission. While further exploration through research is required, it appeared that within institutional confines the FEHBP acted in a substitutionary and surrogacy capacity, as a space for the development of social competence. While participants appeared to experience a sense of protectiveness from the programme, the limitations and restrictions are acknowledged as an increased number and variety of social network links would be required for a more sustainable sense of subjective wellbeing to develop. The FEHBP demonstrates the use of non-professional (community involved) interventions within a forensic psychiatric context.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Psychiatric in-patients’ experiences of an art group : with a focus on the self
- Authors: Holtzhausen, Minnon
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Art therapy -- Case studies , Group psychotherapy -- Case studies , Cognitive therapy -- Case studies , Self-actualization (Psychology) , Self-perception , Mental illness -- Treatment , Psychotherapy patients -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3232 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013146
- Description: Aims: It is argued that one’s sense of self is threatened and eroded by mental illness. According to the narrative perspective, one’s personal life narrative is displaced and maintained by a story of illness. However, dialogical self theorists argue that mental illness limits the number of ‘I’ positions available within an individual, resulting in the positions/voices becoming rigid and being dominated by a singular, monological position. The aims of this qualitative study are to attempt to understand and examine psychiatric inpatients’ personal lived experiences of an art group. The goal of the study is to focus on the impact of the art-making process on these patients with regards to the construction of their sense of self. Design: A qualitative research design was used in the study. Method: Four psychiatric in-patient art group members – three male and one female, between the ages of 27 and 40 – were interviewed. A semi-structured interview schedule consisting of sixteen questions focusing on the interviewees’ experiences of the art group was used. The interviews were analysed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged: What the Participants Gained From the Art Group, Sense of Community and Leaving a Mark, and The Experience of Self in the Art group. All three Superordinate themes fall within the participants’ experience of the art group. Conclusion: All four of the participants expressed positive feelings and enjoyment towards the art group. Participation in the art group provided the participants with a sense of pride, achievement and hope within their lives. As a result of participation on the art group, one of the four participants was able to construct a thin alternative experience and sense of self.
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- Date Issued: 2014