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PsySSA Commemorates World Day for Safety and Health at Work

PsySSA Commemorates World Day for Safety and Health at Work

by | Apr 28, 2026 | Climate, Environment and Psychology (CEP), Health Psychology (HP), Mental Health Advocacy, Mental Health Calendar

PsySSA Commemorates World Day for Safety and Health at Work

 

Today, PsySSA joins the global community in recognising the importance of creating safe, healthy, and dignified working environments for all.

Through contributions from our Climate, Environment and Psychology Division (CEPD) and Health Psychology Division (HPD), we highlight both the lived realities of waste reclaimers in South Africa and broader approaches to promoting safety and wellbeing in the workplace. The CEPD visuals foreground the critical yet often overlooked conditions faced by waste reclaimers, while the HPD contribution (featured in the final graphic) emphasises the importance of supportive work cultures, communication, and psychosocial wellbeing.

Safety and health at work extend beyond formal employment spaces. They include the right to protection, respect, fair conditions, and access to supportive systems for all workers — including those in informal sectors.

As psychology professionals, we are called to promote wellbeing by advocating for inclusive policies, fostering supportive work cultures, and recognising the structural factors that shape health and safety outcomes.

Let us continue to centre dignity, equity, and social justice in how we understand and respond to work and wellbeing.

Outcome of the Life Esidimeni Tragedy Inquest and Decision to Prosecute

Outcome of the Life Esidimeni Tragedy Inquest and Decision to Prosecute

by | Apr 14, 2026 | Mental Health Advocacy

 

Outcome of the Life Esidimeni Tragedy Inquest and Decision to Prosecute

 

A decade later, a step toward justice. Following years of advocacy, investigation, and the enduring strength of affected families, the decision to prosecute in the Life Esidimeni tragedy marks a critical step toward accountability.

PsySSA honours the lives lost and stand in continued commitment to ethical care, human dignity, and systemic accountability in mental health.

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After years marked by grief, anger, and unanswered questions, a significant step toward accountability has been taken in the wake of the Life Esidimeni tragedy. The National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to pursue criminal charges against those implicated signals a long-awaited moment of justice for the more than 140 Gauteng mental health patients who lost their lives after being transferred to ill-equipped facilities.

This tragedy remains a profound reminder of the consequences of systemic neglect and the urgent need to uphold dignity, care, and human rights in mental healthcare. It calls on all sectors of society to reflect on how mental health is valued, prioritised, and protected.

Clinical Psychologist Dr Saths Cooper shares critical insights on what this moment means for accountability, ethical responsibility, and the future of mental health care in South Africa.

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PsySSA Commemorates World Autism Awareness Day 2026

PsySSA Commemorates World Autism Awareness Day 2026

by | Apr 2, 2026 | Division for Research and Methodology (DRM), Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP), Mental Health Advocacy, Mental Health Calendar

PsySSA Commemorates World Autism Awareness Day 2026

 

On World Autism Awareness Day, PsySSA brings together contributions from the Division for Research and Methodology (DRM) and the Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP) to deepen understanding of autism across contexts.

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference – shaped not only by individual experiences, but also by the environments, systems, and relationships that surround each person. These contributions highlight the importance of:

  • Challenging persistent myths and misconceptions
  • Recognising diverse ways of communicating, learning, and relating
  • Understanding the links between sensory experiences, anxiety, and emotional regulation
  • Supporting caregivers, educators, and practitioners with practical, evidence-informed strategies

In the South African context, meaningful awareness must move beyond information toward inclusion, accessibility, and dignity – ensuring that autistic individuals are supported across the lifespan, in schools, families, workplaces, and communities.

This collection invites us to reflect, learn, and act – centering lived experience and strengthening compassionate, contextually relevant care.

 

PsySSA Commemorates Bipolar Day – 30 March 2026

PsySSA Commemorates Bipolar Day – 30 March 2026

by | Mar 30, 2026 | Decolonising Psychology (DP), Health Psychology (HP), Mental Health Advocacy, Mental Health Calendar

World Bipolar Day 2026 – “Bipolar Strong”

 

Today, PsySSA joins the global community in commemorating World Bipolar Day under the theme “Bipolar Strong.”

Living with bipolar disorder is not a weakness – it is a journey of resilience, courage, and ongoing navigation of complex emotional, cognitive, and social realities. While often misunderstood as simple “mood swings,” bipolar disorder is a serious condition involving profound shifts in energy, sleep, and emotional regulation that can deeply affect daily life.

This year, contributions from PsySSA’s Health Psychology Division (HPD) and Decolonising Psychology Division (DPD) invite us to deepen how we think about mental health.

This World Bipolar Day, we call on all sectors of society to:

  • Challenge stigma
  • Strengthen systems of care
  • Centre lived experiences
  • Advance equitable and accessible mental health support

 

Bipolar Disorder and Mental Health Justice: A Decolonial Reflection for World Bipolar Day
By: Kim Gabriel-Dixon

This reflection explores bipolar disorder through a decolonial lens, inviting a broader understanding of mental health that recognises the social conditions, relationships, and structural realities shaping people’s lives. It encourages compassionate awareness while highlighting the importance of dignity, justice, and community care in supporting those living with bipolar disorder.

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Today we commemorate World Bipolar Day under the theme: “BIPOLAR STRONG”

World Bipolar Day is a reminder that living with bipolar disorder is not a weakness, but a journey of resilience, strength, and courage. The theme ‘Bipolar Strong’ celebrates individuals who navigate the highs and lows while continuing to lead meaningful lives, challenge stigma, and advocate for better mental health support.

Every journey with bipolar disorder is different, shaped by personal, social, and structural factors. To transform mental health care, we must look beyond the diagnosis and see the person before the patient.

Here in South Africa, research continues to strengthen our understanding of bipolar disorder care by linking policy, clinical practice, and patient realities. They highlight the importance of effective medication management, multidisciplinary support, familial support, and national treatment guidelines in shaping care and realities for those living with bipolar disorder:

This World Bipolar Day, let us stand in solidarity, challenge stigma, and support those living with bipolar disorder.

Together, we are #BipolarStrong