PsySSA COMMEMORATES WORLD MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY – 10 OCTOBER 2025
“Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”
Today, on World Mental Health Day, the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) joins the global community in reaffirming our collective commitment to mental health as a universal human right.
The 2025 theme — “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies” — calls for urgent attention to the psychological impact of disasters, crises, and emergencies that continue to shape the lives of individuals and communities across the world. Whether through conflict, climate disasters, pandemics, or social upheaval, access to timely, compassionate, and culturally responsive psychological care can mean the difference between despair and resilience.
A Call to Action for a Responsive and Inclusive Psychology
In South Africa, the legacy of inequality continues to manifest in unequal access to mental health care — gaps that are most painfully exposed during times of crisis. PsySSA, as the representative body of psychologists in the country, stands firmly for a psychology that is responsive, inclusive, and transformative, grounded in human rights and social justice.
Our vision remains clear: to advance psychology as a science and profession of global stature, relevant and responsive to South Africa’s diverse social realities. Our mission is to promote psychological praxis that upholds dignity, compassion, and equity, ensuring that mental health care is available to all — especially those most affected by catastrophe and emergency.
From Commitment to Collective Action: The 2024 Pledge Continues
Last year, during the 30th Annual PsySSA Congress and the 10th Anniversary Congress of the Pan African Psychology Union (PAPU) at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg, psychology professionals across Africa united in a shared pledge:
- “To be sensitive to the needs of people with mental illness, and provide compassionate care and support where possible.
- To advocate for people with mental health problems, and to take a stand to uphold their dignity and rights to equality, non-discrimination, and fair treatment by all.”
This pledge remains as relevant today as it was then. It continues to guide our professional and ethical responsibility — to respond with empathy, to advocate for justice, and to uphold the mental health and dignity of all people.
Towards Our 29th Annual PsySSA Congress: A Future of Collaboration and Hope
Next week, PsySSA will host its 29th Annual Psychology Congress, where psychology professionals, researchers, students, and practitioners from across South Africa and beyond will gather under the theme:
“Psychology in Society and Society in Psychology.”
This theme reminds us that psychology does not exist in isolation — it is deeply interwoven with the social, cultural, political, and economic fabric of our nation. Society shapes psychology, just as psychology has the power to shape society.
This year’s Congress will serve not only as a space for academic and professional exchange but as a platform for reflection and action — a forum to examine how our discipline can continue to address societal challenges such as inequality, trauma, mental health crises, and community resilience.
As we engage with the theme, we are reminded that the well-being of our society depends on the accessibility, inclusivity, and responsiveness of psychological services — especially in moments of catastrophe and emergency.
The Congress will offer an opportunity to deepen our collective understanding of how psychology can continue to serve, heal, and empower in times of both crisis and calm.
Call to Engage & Share
- Join the conversation at our upcoming Congress — follow proceedings, share insights, and commit to action.
- Share your story or initiative using #PsySSA4MH and #WorldMentalHealthDay — show how psychology is stepping up in disaster, crisis, and everyday challenge.
- Download and share our pledge poster / social graphics (linked here) to spread awareness among colleagues, communities, and stakeholders.
- Explore and share all of PsySSA’s Mental Health Awareness Month contributions, available throughout October on our website — a collection of thought pieces and resources designed to strengthen psychological well-being across South Africa.