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8th Annual ASSAf Humanities Lecture 2024 – Are we failing our youth? by Prof. Saths Cooper

by | Aug 28, 2024 | Community Engagement, Events and Announcements, Psychology Events

Are we failing our youth?

by Prof. Saths Cooper

In a period of youth turmoil across the globe, it is apposite to consider the condition of youth in our country and continent. In the early 1980s, the question was asked, “Are we creating a lost generation?”

Over four decades later, it seems that we have created lost generations with a rising sense of helplessness and hopelessness, intolerable levels of disaffection, joblessness, violence, dependency, and the inability to engage meaningfully in disrupting prevailing narratives and emerging with a qualitatively different and inclusive trajectory for the future.

Was Shakespeare correct in stating, “The fault… is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings”? Can we cohere in the quest to find meaning for youth and enable them to fully assume their rightful roles in society? These and other critical issues affecting all of us will be traversed in this lecture, to enable us to work together in our various roles and disciplines towards a quest for our common humanity and future.

Date: 10 September 2024
Time: 15:00 – 17:00
Format: Virtual

 

About the Presenter

Prof. Saths Cooper

Prof. Saths Cooper is the current president of the Pan-African Psychology Union and the past president of the International Union of Psychological Science and the Psychological Society of South Africa. Prof Cooper is also a Fellow of the Psychological Societies of South Africa, India, Ireland, Britain and Nigeria. He is a founding governing Board Member of the International Science Council and a Foundation Fellow serving on its Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science. Prof Cooper was a close colleague of the Black Consciousness Movement founder, the late Bantu Stephen (Steve) Biko. At the age of 22, Cooper was banned, placed under house arrest, and thereafter jailed for nine years, five of which he spent in the same cell block as the late South African President Mandela. He was Accused No. 1 in the seminal South African Students’ Organisation/Black Peoples Convention (SASO/BPC) trial, a leader of the struggle against apartheid oppression and exploitation from the late 1960s. He obtained his PhD from Boston University as a Fulbright Scholar. Prof Cooper has taught at the University of Witwatersrand, Boston University and the University of the Western Cape. He also served as the last Vice Chancellor of the University of Durban Westville. Prof Cooper chairs the Robben Island Museum and the 1970s Group of Activists.

 

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Women’s Day – 9 August 2024

Women’s Day – 9 August 2024

by | Aug 8, 2024 | Community and Engagement, Mental Health Calendar

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Psychological Society of South Africa during our 30th year of democracy as a country we recognize the efforts of a now fast-growing network of psychological researchers and practitioners who are contributing to discourses on decolonization alongside a critical engagement and foregrounding of African and African-centered forms of psychology. This growing body of scholarship and practice recognizes that contextually grounded questions of liberation, well-being and healing can only be addressed through this lens, and from here. At the same time, there is recognition that South African and African forms of psychology have much we can offer the world. Taking a contextually rooted approach enables the asking and answering of psychological questions that have never before been asked nor answered.

In celebration of this Women’s Day and in commemoration and gratitude to the thousands of women who fought against oppressive apartheid legislation and contributed to the freedoms we enjoy today – we take this moment to consider the questions that should be asked and answered – for, and from here. Enhancing the freedoms of women and all gender non-conforming persons means we should be rethinking the questions we ask about women’s equality, access to education, to health and to the economy. We should be thinking anew about questions around gender categorization, gender identification and the gendered language. We should be asking about the meanings of the historical and other forms of ongoing trauma around what it means to be and navigate the world as a woman in South Africa and on our continent; what does it mean to be free and to live a good life. What does it mean to be well, and live lives of freedom and dignity as South African, African women in light of the global stereotypes about African womanhood and girlhood?

As we think about these and the many other questions that should be asked and answered we remember, with pride, the leading role that South Africa plays on the global stage with regard to questions of human rights, global solidarity and justice, especially for the people of Palestine and we reiterate our commitment to well-being, peace, equality, dignity and justice for all.

A brief introduction to BrainWorking Recursive Therapy Seminar

A brief introduction to BrainWorking Recursive Therapy Seminar

by | Aug 5, 2024 | Community and Engagement, Events and Announcements, Psychology Events

A brief introduction to BrainWorking® Recursive Therapy (BWRT®)

The Department of Psychology at Wits University through its Umthombo Lecture series will be hosting the following seminar.

Presenter: Dr Rafiq Lockhat

Date: Tuesday, 6th of August 2024

Time: 13h00 to 14h00 SAST

No registration needed. For enquiries, please contact Aline.FerreiraCorreia@wits.ac.za.

Join us on Zoom:

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Mandela Day – 18 July 2024

Mandela Day – 18 July 2024

by | Jul 18, 2024 | Community and Engagement, Mental Health Advocacy, Mental Health Calendar

What would Nelson Mandela say in 2024?

Written by Prof. Anthony Pillay 

As we commemorate Nelson Mandela Day and celebrate his life, we cannot help wondering what he would say about the state of the nation that he and others fought so hard to free; or what he would say about global affairs. We are reminded of his quest for justice, human rights and equality, his love of children, and his outspokenness on injustice worldwide. As a global statesman he made it his duty to argue for the rights of all, and the oppression of none. We can, therefore, assume that he would be disappointed at the continuing inequity, poverty, violence and corruption that engulf our country three decades after his inauguration as South Africa’s first democratically elected President. The maladministration, increasing unemployment, poverty and the multiple social ills that befall our communities would be troubling to him, as they should be to all of us.

There is also reason to believe that our former President would be incredibly saddened by the levels of oppression, violence and atrocity being meted out against marginalised groups across the globe. With war and violence spreading through numerous countries, these are disturbing times, and we long for a Mandela to rescue us – but Psychology has taught us and those we serve, that we have to learn self-reliance. We need to put up our hands, take responsibility, and do the job, as difficult as it may be. As we were advised by our former leader, “It always seems impossible until it’s done”.

Following our freedom as a nation, President Mandela made a point of reminding us that “…our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”. With the current war on Gaza in its 10th month, and more than 35 000 Palestinians killed, he would have been really troubled at the continuing violence and oppression. That women and children accounted for more than half of those killings would have been deeply disturbing. Wars elsewhere in the world are also wreaking havoc on civilians, with death, destruction and displacement of communities proliferating on a daily basis. The recent missile attack on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital would have struck a nerve for our former President given his devotion to the well-being of children, which was embodied in his sentiment that “The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children”. On his home continent, the plight of civilians in several countries with armed conflict will, no doubt, have been a worry. The conflicts in Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and elsewhere, would distress the great man, as it should the rest of us.

All things considered, it is likely that Mandela would lament the state of our country, the poverty, inequality and governance, as well as the wars, oppression and killing of innocent civilians, including women and children, and the many social ills prevailing elsewhere in the world. However, among his parting words, he said to us, “It is in your hands” – so we need to step up and continue the struggle work that he and many others did. This time, we have to conquer the enemies of corruption, inequality, poverty, greed, and oppression, among other national and global evils.

The Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) joins the global community in celebrating Nelson Mandela International Day and honouring the life of our great leader.

For all that you did for us, and for all that you taught us, we salute you, Mr President!

SANCA Drug Awareness Week 2024: 24 June – 30 June

SANCA Drug Awareness Week 2024: 24 June – 30 June

by | Jun 24, 2024 | Community and Engagement, Mental Health Advocacy, Mental Health Calendar, The South African Association for Counselling Psychology (SAACP)

Dr Elron Fouten

Dr Elron Fouten holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Psychology Department at Rhodes University, where he is also a lecturer. For his PhD, he applied structural equation modelling (SEM) to test which individual, contextual, and social risk factors best predict substance abuse amongst a sample of substance abusers. Using SEM allowed him to demonstrate which paths and interactions amongst the risk factors are the most likely contributing factors making individuals susceptible to substance abuse. Dr Fouten’s other research interests are community psychology, the psychology of men and masculinities, gangsterism and violence, and complex traumatic stress disorder.

Risk Profiles and Multi-Level Predictors of Substance Abuse in South Africa

Substance abuse levels in South Africa have continued to rise, with the age of first experimentation with drugs reported as being 10 years. Several studies have shown that substance abuse has an adverse impact on users, their families and their communities, resulting in a number of social, psychological and economic struggles. Moreover, substance abuse places an increased psychological, social and financial burden on the individual and the family, as it has been related to the destabilisation of the nuclear and extended family units, permeating every area of life and affecting the very social fabric of society.

Since the South African government recognized the need for effective policies and strategies to mitigate substance abuse they established the Central Drug Authority to oversee the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP). The NDMP focuses on a multi-pronged approach to mitigate substance abuse, including prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The plan also aligns with the global shift towards harm reduction and individualized care, as highlighted in the 2022 National Drug Control Strategy in the United States. The main targets of substance abuse awareness promotion and harm reduction strategies in South Africa are diverse, including the general population, the workforce, and specific groups such as Nyaope users.

A recent study, using the South African Substance Use Contextual Risk Instrument (SASUCRI), sought to determine the magnitude, strength and direction of the interaction of the individual and contextual risk factors (as measured by the SASUCRI) in predicting substance abuse. This study thus applied structural equation modelling (SEM) to data collected from 1094 individuals seeking either inpatient or outpatient treatment for substance abuse in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

This study identified 10 risk profiles (see figure below) that interact in the prediction of substance abuse; these are: individuals with low self-esteem (SE), who perceive their family as lacking or having low intra-family communication (IFC), who lack positive peer support (PPS), who perceive criminal behaviours as normal (AACB), who feel a strong need to fit in (FI), who are less religious (REL), who have easy access to drugs (PTD), who lack a sense of community traditions and belonging (CTB), who see public displays of substance use (PDSU) as normal, and who lack concern for the future(CFF), are at 59% greater risk of substance abuse. It is important to note that the micro level factors (low SE, PPS, IFC) and meso-level factors (AACB, FI, REL) do not significantly predict substance abuse, rather, they significantly interact with factors further from the individual that they predict substance abuse. Thus, it is only when they interact with factors located in the other systems (exosystem, macrosystem and chronosystem) that they become significant predictors of substance abuse. Conversely, exosystem (APTD), macrosystem (CTB, PDSU), and chronosystem factors (CFF), independently are significant predictors of substance abuse.

This finding highlights the need for collaboration between community stakeholders and government in engaging community residents, particularly disadvantaged groups, to identify any of the 10 risk profiles to promote health and well-being at a community level.

Warren Cornelius

As someone with lived experience, I am deeply passionate and committed to working with people who have substance use disorders and other addictions. Professionally, I lead the ITTC SA substance use prevention, advocacy, and recovery programming. Additionally, I serve as the deputy country coordinator for the South African Chapter of the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR). During my free time, I focus on community-based projects aimed at coordinating and facilitating substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, and other social development initiatives. I am actively involved in the organizing committee for the Recovery Walk Cape Town and am advancing the Inclusive Recovery Cities (IRC) model in South Africa. I particularly enjoy mobilizing grassroots individuals and organizations and uniting people from diverse backgrounds. I hold Postgraduate Diplomas in Addictions Care and Public Mental Health from the University of Cape Town and I am currently pursuing an Mphil in Public Mental Health.

Harmful substance use is a growing problem in South Africa. It has a profound impact on almost every aspect of our society, including the social, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being of individuals, as well as on families, communities, public health, social welfare, education, and criminal justice services. To this end, Drug Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of the harmful effects of substance use. However, many of the most common strategies being used by well-meaning advocates have been shown to be ineffective. Some have even caused harm by unintentionally reinforcing pro-use attitudes, behaviours and norms by, for example, using scare tactics. Some strategies may seem like a good idea on the surface, but our obligation is to employ evidence-based effective strategies that maximize our limited resources.

The early detection of harmful substance use is key in preventing and treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Consequently, the International Technology Transfer Center South Africa (ITTC SA), has developed the World Health Organization (WHO) The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) into an online web app ASSIST version. The web app ASSIST is anonymized and asks about recent substance use over the past 3 months and assesses lifetime use risks. It provides (i) a level of risk for each substance used; (ii) information for the Brief Intervention (BI) component; (iii) information and feedback about the risks and harms associated with each substance; and (iv) feedback on physical, medical, and psychological risks of regular substance use, it also screens and provides information on injection drug use. Members of the public can use the self-screen pathway, and there is also a pathway for practitioners to screen clients. High-risk screening scores will lead to further assessment and a referral to specialized treatment. Usually, a small proportion (5%) of the using population will be at high risk. The rest of the individuals can be treated via a BI.

Whist mental health promotion and substance use prevention are fundamental along the continuum of care, accessibility and availability of evidence-based treatment services are vital. Members of the public are encouraged to only use treatment facilities that are registered with the Department of Social Development (DoSD). You may visit the Substance Use Treatment Directory at https://sudservices.uct.ac.za/, developed by the ITTC SA, to locate a treatment service provider nearest to you. For better treatment outcomes, substance use treatment providers should be trained in the latest evidence-based treatment approaches. The University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Addictions Care are the only two specialized addiction science programmes offered in the country (Kader et al., 2023). These postgrad diplomas are offered online and are accessible to addiction practitioners across the country.

While addiction has been characterised as a chronic relapsing condition, multiple studies have shown that stable recovery is not only possible but that it is probable (Sheedy and Whitter, 2009). It is widely recognised that recovery is a journey that can be measured in terms of growth of recovery capital (Granfield and Cloud, 1999) which includes three primary domains – personal, social and community capital. Recovery success relies not only on personal efforts and capabilities but also on social networks and access to the resources in the community. The recovery focus should, therefore, be aimed at community facets that are capable of hindering or promoting recovery success. Essential to this are community-based events and activities led by community members consisting of people in recovery, people who are allies of recovery, and grassroots organizations, in partnership with civic leadership and addiction treatment services.

The Recovery Walk Cape Town (RWCT) is one such event, which:

  • Challenges stigma and social exclusion by demonstrating the positive successes and achievements of recovery.
  • Creates a visible and accessible recovery community that is inclusive and welcoming and that actively engages the general public.
  • Ensures that the event is inclusive in terms of the diversity of participants including but not restricted to ethnicity, gender and gender identity.
  • Creates pathways to a diverse range of community resources and builds meaningful partnerships with these resources.
  • Champions and celebrates the contribution the recovery community makes to the communities and city in which it is located.

The RWCT is the start of a bigger objective of establishing Cape Town as an Inclusive Recovery City (IRC). However, the IRC model aims to have a network of linked cities across SA engaging in innovative grassroots practices to increase awareness of and acceptance of recovery in communities while engaging in a diverse range of public-facing activities that benefit the recovery community, other marginalised and vulnerable groups and communities and creates opportunities for active citizenship for people affected by drug and alcohol problems. The fundamental premise of the IRC model is about creating networks and hope through public celebration events that are open and accessible, first to increase connectedness for people affected by addictions and second to increase collective efficacy and civic participation across a wide range of excluded and marginalised groups. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about the RWCT or the IRC model – it would be a joy to assist and support you in starting these in your communities and towns.

Links:

Web app ASSIST: https://assistscreening.uct.ac.za/

Substance Use Treatment Directory:  https://sudservices.uct.ac.za/

Recovery Walk Cape Town:  www.recoverywalk.co.za

References

Granfield, R., & Cloud, W. (1999). Coming clean: Overcoming addiction without treatment. NYU press.

Kader, R., Govender, R., Cornelius, W., Abrahams, L., Ashburner, F., Tisaker, N., Miovský, M., & Harker, N. (2023). Needs assessment and preparatory work for addiction science programs at universities: experiences of universities in South Africa. Journal of Substance Use, 1-6.

Sheedy, C. K., & Whitter, M. (2009). Guiding principles and elements of recovery-oriented systems of care: What do we know from the research? HHS Publication No.(SMA) 09-4439. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Youth Day 2024

Youth Day 2024

by | Jun 15, 2024 | Community and Engagement, Decolonising Psychology (DP), Events and Announcements, Mental Health Calendar

Youth Day – 16 June 2024

“Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians” – Nelson Mandela

Written by the Palestine Solidarity Alliance Youth League

 

Activism, when viewed through the lens of consciousness, becomes an enlightening endeavour that addresses the myriad sufferings observed worldwide. This recognition highlights the importance of conscientisation, ensuring that the work toward liberation continues. The struggle encompasses the suffering of the citizens of the entire world.

The parallel between apartheid South Africa and apartheid Israel is unmistakable. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “I have been to occupied Palestinian territory, and I have witnessed the racially segregated roads and housing that reminded me so much of the conditions we experienced in South Africa under the racist system of apartheid.” This theme underpins the broader concept of oppression and that all struggles are interconnected. Our collective liberation and solidarity are a means of complete freedom from all forms of oppression. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

June 16th, Youth Day, is a poignant reminder of the Soweto Uprising of 1976 where thousands of students of colour protested against the oppressive apartheid regime. Their bravery and determination in the face of brutal repression embody the spirit of activism. Without the bravery of these young activists, we, as South Africans, would never have tasted freedom.

Similarly, today’s youth across the globe are rising in solidarity against apartheid in Israel, with Palestinian youth such as Bisan Owda, Muna El Kurd, and Motaz Azaiza transforming activism as we know it. These young leaders resisted oppression with their phones, using social media platforms to inform the world about Israel’s crimes against humanity. Their efforts have sparked a global uprising, making “Free Palestine” a widespread topic of conversation. The bravery of these youth activists, who provide raw footage of events on the ground, has debunked Israeli propaganda. With authentic video evidence being shared widely, Palestine is finally winning the narrative war for the first time in 76 years.  

Today, student uprisings and encampments have spread across campuses worldwide in support of the people of Palestine. From Wits University to Harvard University, students are organising, protesting, and raising awareness about the plight of Palestinians. These movements echo the spirit of the Soweto Uprising, demonstrating the power of youth to effect change and the enduring importance of activism in the fight for justice. Activism rooted in consciousness demands an understanding of the suffering of those who lack a platform to advocate for themselves.

The similarities between struggles of today’s youth in Palestine and the youth of South Africa can be clearly seen. Youth unemployment is on the rise, resulting in extreme poverty both here in South Africa and in Gaza. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s population is displaced, and the illegal siege on Gaza has left thousands without proper sanitation or running water. Similarly, many South African citizens experience similar struggles. Period poverty is a real issue faced by both Palestinians and South Africans. Education has been halted in Gaza due to schools and universities being turned into rubble and the unimaginable number of students and educators murdered. Similarly, the education system in South Africa has failed us due to the lack of resources. These are just a few of the struggles faced by both Palestinians and South Africans. That’s why when we fight for justice we fight for the justice of all people.

In conclusion, the role of activism in our societies is crucial in order to achieve complete liberation for all. As we reflect on Youth Day and the sacrifices made by young South Africans in the fight against apartheid, we must renew our commitment to global solidarity. By standing together and supporting one another, we can create a world where freedom and justice prevail for everyone.