Who We Are
WFMH Board Candidates for Election
2025-2027
Ingrid Daniels
Country: South Africa
Region: Africa
Nominator: Bharti Patel
Candidate 1000 word statement
I have over 38 years’ experience in the mental health sector as a clinician, administrator, mental health advocate and lobbyist and, implementer of mental health services. Please refer to the attached abridged curriculum vitae.
As CEO of the oldest and one of the largest mental health non-government organisation’s in South Africa (112 years), I have been directly involved in ensuring that we provide comprehensive community based mental health services in resource poor and marginalised communities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Please refer to www.capementalhealth.co.za.
During my tenure as director (25 years), the organisation has won several national and international awards for developing best practice – innovative mental health services. Cape Mental Health (CMH) is committed to challenging socially restrictive and discriminatory practices affecting the mental health of all people. Our work is underpinned by a commitment to quality, excellence and professionalism at all times. We work closely with mental health service user advocacy movement/structures to ensure that the human rights of persons with mental illness and intellectual disability are protected. As a Board member of the South African Federation of South Africa, we were directly involved in exposing the Life Esidemeni Tragedy.
Our slogan – all about ability – reflects our unified purpose to recognise and nurture the abilities of our service-users, our staff and our volunteers. We believe in developing and enhancing the resilience of people with mental disability on their recovery journey. We see possibilities where some may only see challenges and obstacles; we focus on ABILITY rather than DISABILITY.
CMH is a lead mental health organisation in South Africa playing a pivotal role on the Board of the South Africa Federation for Mental Health and other structures in developing mental health services as well as commenting on policy and legislation.
We host and manage the largest mental health education and awareness campaign in Africa – Cape Town International Kite Festival where over 18 000 people attend the event during Mental Health Awareness month in October.
I have supported the self-advocacy movement for persons with developmental and psychosocial disabilities in SA to ensure that mental health users right to self-determination is respected at all times. This has resulted in the representation of person with mental disability being represented on our Board
She is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Division of Intellectual Disability, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town and teaches at Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Germany on the International Programme on Diversity and Inclusion and Ethics Course.
On behalf of the World Federation for Mental Health and in partnership with the City of Barcelos and RECOVERY IPSS, Portugal, she was actively involved in planning and launch of the 1st World Mental Health City in Barcelos, Portugal in December 2023.
She has an extensive resumé of publications and presentations delivered at national and international levels and remain committed to addressing global mental health challenges particularly in lower-and middle-income countries and specifically in South Africa.
My specific skills include, namely:
- Organisational Management, Administration & Development
- Training & Education – Disability Inclusion (Senior Hon. Lecturer at UCT and teach at the University of Applied Sciences in Bochum)
- Leadership knowledge and skills
- Networking and Partnership Formations
- Mental Health Administration
- Corporate Governance
- Advocacy & Lobbying
- Policy Development
- Developing Fundraising Strategies for NGO’s
- Financial Oversight
- Human Resource Management
Candidate additional statement if provided
In her my role as President, I collaborated extensively with several global organisations including WHO and launched with her Board and team two successful World Mental Health Day events in 2020 and 2021 reaching over 10 million people globally during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Board displayed strong fiscal discipline, active programmes, fundraising and was able to report regularly on the financial position of the organisation. I have a vested interest which is to ensure that the WFMH restores its governance and position as a lead global NGO able to fulfil its mission and purpose. I can contribute to the functioning and betterment of the WFMH my knowledge of:
- NGO Boards
- Leadership & Governance
- Finance and Fundraising
- Programme Development & Implementation
- Strategic Planning
- Policy Development