Building a Unified, Relevant, and Responsive Psychology
CaSP would like to acknowledge the contribution and hard work of one of our students in the MA Clinical Psychology programme at UNISA. The infographic below is the hard work of Mr Wesley Pereira, a first year student in the MA Clinical Psychology programme at UNISA.
PsySSA Past President
“Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights” is South Africa’s (SA) theme for our Human Rights Day on 21 March, which bore witness to the Sharpeville massacre on this day in 1960.
“All Human Beings Are Born Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights” is the United Nations’ 74th anniversary slogan for International Human Rights Day on 10 December, celebrated in recognition of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on that day in 1948. The UN General Assembly crafted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as a result of the pass laws and the Sharpeville Massacre, with this day being recognised as the UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1969!
PsySSA’s Constitution proclaims that “We acknowledge psychology’s historical complicity in supporting and perpetuating colonialism and the apartheid system” and that we are committed to:
“Transforming and redressing the silences in South African psychology to serve the needs and interests of all South Africa’s people;” and
“Actively striving for social justice, opposing policies that deny individuals or groups access to the material and psychological conditions necessary for optimal human development, and protesting any violations of basic human rights”.PsySSA members have, since our inauguration in January 1994, been informed by the enduring legacy of colonialism and apartheid trauma, and the unfinished attempts to correct these since the advent of democracy. The scars left by the infamy and profound psychological impacts of the “Pass Laws” in our history reverberate through generations, impacting communities, groups, families and individuals in ways that society has not fully come to grips with.
SA’s exceptionalism, blinding partisanship and twisting of language and narrative to suit narrow sociopolitical ends are the heritage of our colonial and apartheid past. Yet, here we are, almost 30 years after hard-won democracy, having to constantly disabuse ourselves of outdated bias and prejudice that should have no place in any vibrant society, stripping individuals of their dignity, autonomy, and sense of belonging, festering otherness. Brutal past and poorly-managed current policies have inflicted deep wounds on the psyche, perpetuating cycles of fear, anger, and despair. For many, the trauma of our terrible past persists in the form of complex PTSD, ongoing psychic emergency, depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, on a persistent bed of poverty all around us. Poverty of both income and leadership.
Intergenerational transmission of these sequelae – without any mediation – ensures their perpetuation, continuing to shape the behaviour of most of our children, who are socialised by suffering. Our children – our future – bear the mantle of psychological scars embedded by told and untold stories, widening the Them vs Us divide across society, made worse by the silly season of hundreds of political parties promising us everything, while effectively seeking it for themselves.
As psychologists, we recognise the importance of addressing all of these issues in the small and larger ways that we can, with authenticity and willingness to learn and better our skill sets in the process of reconciling and tolerating differences, in community healing and educational initiatives, thus playing vital roles in fostering healing and resilience. By confronting the past with courage and compassion, we can create a future where human rights are upheld, and psychological health and wellbeing are grounded for all to ensure that our children may fully embrace our common humanity.
PsySSA Chair: Climate, Environment and Psychology Division
PSYSSA commemorates Human Rights Day on 21 March 2024.
In the 30th year of our democracy, Human Rights Day allows us to reflect on past atrocities, reflect on current human rights struggles and importantly, imagine a better world for all. Human rights declarations offer a set of universal ideas and values that speak to the rights of all people regardless of their race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, language, political views, and socioeconomic status. In South Africa, human rights are enshrined in the constitution (through the Bill of Rights) and underpin the core values of freedom, dignity, and equality. On Human Rights Day, we commemorate those who valiantly fought for our freedoms and human rights that are central to our democracy. We remember those who lost their lives during the Sharpeville massacre and other liberatory struggles leading to our democracy. We also acknowledge those who played a role in the formation of PsySSA and who continue to promote a holistic rights-based approach to mental health and psychological well-being.However, the majority of South Africans continue to live in unsafe environments and are exposed to inferior quality education, elevated unemployment levels, food insecurity, violence, crime and inadequate healthcare, to name a few. We are in the grip of a service delivery crisis where water access, loadshedding and infrastructure collapse threaten to undermine human rights in profound ways. We also see the continuing attack on the rights of marginalised groups through epistemic and political violence. We stand with groups fighting for human rights. We also stand in solidarity with those fighting for human rights around the world in a time of increased insecurity, military action, and political instability. As we look forward, we also look to galvanise the rights of marginalised people and their knowledge systems, promote meaningful participation in our democracy, and develop the rights of the natural world alongside human rights in the hope of a more just planetary future.
Today marks World Head Injury Awareness Day, a vital opportunity to shed light on the importance of protecting our brains throughout all stages of life. Delve into the critical subject of brain health with a special podcast from Prof. Theophilus Lazarus. This podcast addresses critical topics of brain health, the impact of traumatic injuries from newborns to late life, established and emerging trends in neuroscience research, and more!
This World Cancer Day, PsySSA shines a light on the unseen battles of cancer — the emotional, mental, and psychological challenges patients face. In the fight against cancer, we underscore the necessity of psychological care as part of the comprehensive treatment plan. As we support the ‘Close the Gap’ campaign, we call on leaders and healthcare providers to ensure psychological support is integral to cancer care, thereby enhancing patient resilience and overall quality of life.
Important decisions regarding the career journey ahead for high school graduates (and their families) have to be taken at the end of the final school year. For some graduates, parental guidance may be absent, inadequate, or not to their liking. For others, external circumstances may stifle their own voices in determining their future careers.
What are some advisable and inadvisable steps? When is the best time to initiate this crucial conversation?
First, congratulations to students who have achieved the necessary marks for admission to their chosen institutions and specific career or study fields. Second, for those who have not (yet) attained the desired marks: Relax. There are still good reasons to remain positive and optimistic about the future.
Before we proceed: Please discard the term ‘fail’ from your vocabulary. Instead, use the phrase ‘insufficient achievement’. Students’ current marks may well influence their acceptance into their preferred field of study, but they certainly do not have to determine their overall success in life or limit their career prospects
While it is disappointing when exam results fall short of students’ own and others’ expectations, it is essential to step back emotionally and consider the results calmly. In life, we all experience successes and setbacks. This is entirely normal. If your results were below expectations, consider this a challenge you can overcome – an opportunity to grow personally and to demonstrate resilience in today’s rapidly changing and uncertain world. Consider the words of Carl Jung (one of the most eminent psychologists of our time: “Be grateful for your difficulties and challenges, for they hold blessings. [We] need difficulties; they are necessary for health personal growth [and self-fulfilment].”
Do not to fixate on a particular tertiary institution, whether a university, university of technology, or private training institution. Yes, it is true that people with degrees often find employment more easily and earn higher salaries, yet a university degree is certainly not the only path to success. Non-university study has its own value, and each study discipline and tertiary training institution should be evaluated on how it best suits you.
Students faced with a Grade 12 pass that does not secure admission to tertiary studies have several avenues they can explore. They could for example request a reevaluation of their exam papers, they could opt to write supplementary exams, or they could opt to repeat grades or specific subjects. However, whatever they decide to do will require diligence and dedication on their part. Most importantly they need to convert their intentions and aspirations into actions. They could also apply to do similar courses at other institutions or to study at a different training level. Consulting with a career counsellor first is essential. If the decision is to reapply in the upcoming year, you as the affected student should consider taking a gap year (but only after consulting with a career counsellor and/or students who have taken a gap year previously). Or you could engage in part-time work or other constructive activities. Speak to people who have successfully navigated similar situations and also to those who have not. But remember, you understand yourself better than anyone else; you are the ultimate authority on your own being. Only you can advise yourself. Others can offer valuable insights, but they can never ‘advise’ you on the most appropriate career for you.
Remember: Becoming employable and leading a purposeful and meaningful life is entirely possible regardless of exam results.
The following is some general advice for parents:
In the face of disappointment, sadness, anxiety, or depression following your exam results, dwelling on what might have been serves little purpose. Instead, take active steps to address these emotions.
Remember that this is just one exam, one of many career-live transitions you will have to contend with in the course of your life. There is always hope. Many people who experience challenges in Grade 12 exams go on to achieve success in later life. Understand that you have not ‘failed’ anything. While your current marks may influence your acceptance into your preferred field of study, they do not determine your overall success in life. Avoid negative talk and recriminations.
Do not blame yourself or others. Disappointing exam results do not define you as a ‘bad’ or less valuable person, nor do they make you a so-called ‘failure’. If destructive thoughts or even thoughts of suicide arise, speak immediately with your parents and seek the assistance of a qualified professional such as a psychologist, a registered counsellor, or another suitable individual.
It is imperative for students to cultivate a sense of meaning, hope, and purpose in their lives and to gain a clear understanding of their life’s purpose, why they are studying, and what motivates them. While it is critical to choose a field of study that offers financial stability, students should also consult trained professionals, such as career psychologists, to uncover and enact what is really important to them (their central life themes), beyond their ‘job’ goals.
Once students have identified their central life themes, usually with the help of someone such as a career psychologist, they can then articulate their career-life purpose and address existential questions such as “Why do I live?” “Where am I headed?” “Why am I on this planet?” and “Is life worth living?” Answers to these questions will place them on a sound footing for the future.
See the ‘story’ below for an example of what a key life theme is and its role in helping you live a meaning- and purpose-filled career-life.
‘Lebogang stated, “I come from a very poor environment. I was never ‘good enough’ in my parents’ eyes and consequently developed a very low self-concept [a key life theme]. I love helping and being there for students with similar challenges. Therefore, I am studying to become an educational psychologist so I can help children with an impaired sense of self, especially those who do not have access to such services”. This ‘vision statement’ unveils the social significance she envisions for her work A common thread weaving through people’s career-life stories’ is the transformative power of turning personal pain, hurt, or ‘suffering’ into triumph and social contributions. In essence, it is about converting passive suffering into active mastery. By assisting others who have overcome similar challenges, individuals actively confront the pain they themselves have experienced, finding joy and pride in honouring the legacy of their loved ones in the best way possible. And every time they help others become whole (‘heal’), they also heal themselves.
Here are the URLs for additional websites where you can find information about universities, universities of technology, TVET Colleges, and private higher education institutions, among others:
Examples of diploma qualifications and minimum entry requirements for degree courses:
All about TVET Colleges:
https://www.news24.com/You/Archive/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sas-tvet-colleges-20170728-2
SAQA – The SA Qualifications Framework:
What is the difference between a certificate, diploma, and degree?
https://www.skillsacademy.co.za/differences-between-a-degree-certificate-and-a-diploma/
For information on bursaries, study techniques, relaxation methods, and more, visit www.kobusmaree.org.
Despite wet and windy weather conditions, 850 people turned up to support the KZN Mental Health Advocacy Walk last Sunday, ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10.
Many familiar PsySSA faces also belonged to the main organizing committee of the KwaZulu-Natal Mental Health Advocacy Group, under whose auspices the walk is hosted. They include Suntosh Pillay, co-founder of the Advocacy Group and executive member of the PsySSA Community and Social Psychology Division; Lynne Richards, who managed the walk’s logistics with the eThekwini Municipality, and is the chairperson of the PsySSA Trauma and Violence Division; and Rivendri Govender, who ensured that over 30 organisations attended the related Wellness Fair, and is the Secretary of the Society for Educational Psychology of South Africa (SEPSA) with Professor Suvira Ramlall, a psychiatrist who co-founded of the event with Pillay, this small team pulled of another well-attended walk for the eight year running.
Pillay says that the 5km walk “continues to grow every year as the flagship community-driven mental health event in the province, if not the country. We are probably the biggest, free, mental health walk in South Africa right now.” People came from all corners of KZN, including Chatsworth, the South Coast, Madadeni and Pietermaritzburg, and brought placards and posters to voice their slogans. The SABC, Isolezwe, and local newspapers all supported the walk with media coverage. Govender said a walk is a fun and interactive way to get people to engage with the topic of mental health “which people shy away from”. “We are encouraging people to take a stand against the stigma.” Richards agrees. “Annually, the walks brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds to advocate together. It is a wonderful day filled with activities, such as yoga and aerobics.”
The theme for #WMHD 2023 is “Mental health is a universal human right”. Pillay said this topic is especially pertinent given the current debates about National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa and the best way to achieve universal health coverage. “NHI is one option; but whatever funding mechanism we use to gain equity of access to healthcare, psychosocial services must be included from the outset. There is no debate that psychology professionals are an essential service,” said Pillay.
The related wellness fair at the North Beach amphitheater had 30 organisations to interact with the public, including the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), Refugee Social Services, the Durban Book Fair, the Mum’s Support Network, Mondia Health, Medis Medical Software, the KZN Department of Health, Akeso, and Joint Medical Holdings.
Pierre Buckley, from the Global Interfaith Network (GIN), joined as an LGBTQ+ activist. “GIN understands the importance of wellbeing in its entirely,” said Buckley. “Being present and supporting the walk adds our voice and presence to support the urgency to address mental wellness in society. This was a meaningful event.”
To support the event, contact suntoshpillay@gmail.com
Photo credits: Vijay Ramballie.
