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Body Mapping as a mental health response to sexual violence

In Rustenburg's community of around half a million over 12,000 rapes occur each year, with the majority of victims being women. Yet only a tiny fraction are reported to receive health care, in spite of the fact that the injury and suffering that results from rape requires an immediate and longer term medical and psychosocial response. While the physical consequences of rape are to some extent recognised, the psychological consequences often receive less attention, despite being both common and severe.
In Rustenburg, MSF supports the Department of Health in four "Kgomotso Care Centres" - clinics that provide an essential package of medical and mental health care services to rape survivors, which includes psychological first aid, unlimited counselling and linkage to other services, such as social care. To deepen the mental health response MSF also facilitates survivor support groups, some of which facilitate Body Mapping workshops.
Body Mapping is a visual arts-based methodology that can help participants understanding embodied experiences that are difficult to explain using words, and facilitate conversation about topics that may be challenging to discuss.
Participants "map" a life-size outline of their body with their stories and feelings, in the process helping them to identify the internal and external scars and hardships that they are living with, and working through. Participants have reported feeling an increase in hope for the future, as well as a strengthening of self-belief and a shift away from feelings of self-blame.

MSFSTO27021

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Jacob Makopela, male SGBV survivor from Letlhabile, South Africa.

Sello Lefoka, male SGBV survivor from Letlhabile, South Africa.

Counselling session in the Lethlabile Kgomotso Care Centre, run by MSF out of a Department of Health hospital in the North West Province.

Outskirts of Rustenburg on South Africa's platinum belt

Kgomotso Care Centres serve female and male survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence .

South Africa's platinum belt accounts for roughly 70% of world platinum production.

Shupikai Bondakara, female SGBV survivor from Bapong, South Africa.

Poppy Makgobatlou, female SGBV survivor from Bapong, South Africa.

Shupikai Bondakara, female SGBV survivor from Bapong, South Africa.

Body Mapping as a mental health response to sexual violence

Chicken feet are a local delicacy, referred to colloquially as "walkie talkies"

Shisa nyama - meat barbecue - on South Africa's platinum belt

Many people in the Platinum belt have family members working in the mines. Houses are often built close together in smaller, spread out neighbourhoods.