PsySSA Commemorates National Women’s Day 2025

by Web Admin | Aug 8, 2025 | Decolonising Psychology (DP), Divisions, Mental Health Calendar, Sexuality and Gender Division (SGD)

PsySSA Commemorates National Women’s Day 2025

09 August

A critical reflection on psychology’s role in advancing gender equity in South Africa

This opinion piece has been drafted by Angeline Stephens, PhD on behalf of the Sexuality and Gender Division (SGD) of PsySSA, with input from members of the SGD.

As we commemorate Women’s month in August and Women’s Day on the 9^th August in South Africa, we reflect on psychology’s role in advancing gender equity and promoting socio-economic justice for women and gender diverse communities through inclusive psychological practice.

In marking this month and day, the South African government website begins by paying tribute to the women who marched to the Union Buildings on the 9^th August, 1956, in protest against the Pass Laws (https://www.gov.za/WomensDay2025). Additionally and importantly, through remembering several “pioneer” women, we are reminded that women’s participation in the political transformation of our country and, specifically, in the fight for women’s rights, predates the significant 1956 march to the Union Buildings.

Accordingly, in reflecting on psychology’s role in advancing gender equity and promoting socio-economic justice for women in South Africa, we are compelled to situate psychology’s role within the broader political and socio-historical contexts of our beloved country; ravaged by the scars of the colonial rape[1] of the land and its people, apartheid violence and deep trauma.

Quijano’s (2007) concept of the coloniality of power in the “modern/colonial gender system” (Lugones, 2023) provides an appropriately relevant and critical point from which to reflect on the role that psychology plays, in the present moment, in addressing the gendered inequalities of the past, in ways that interrogate its intersections with race, class and sexuality.

To what extent has psychology shifted from being an instrument that supported an apartheid ideology and system of hierarchical racial categorisation and divisiveness to being one of inclusive practice that recognises the diversity of gendered, classed and raced identities?

Cognisant of this history that continues to permeate the lived reality of millions of women, whose lives are systematically devalued and dehumanised, in what ways does psychology advance gender equity and promote socio-economic justice for women and gender diverse communities through inclusive psychological practice?

It is appropriate to begin by considering the kind(s) of knowledge that is/are produced in academic and professional spaces through teaching, research, professional programmes and therapeutic work, as these enactments mark very tangible ways in which psychology, as a discipline and a practice, engages with (marginalised) communities and represents an instrument of power.

Psychology’s participation in teaching, research, training, therapy and community engagement offer powerful ways in which psychology can challenge and change normative, gendered ways of doing. But this requires constant critical reflexive practice of what we do.

It is pleasing to note that there is a shift towards including content that is more African-centred and produced in the global south in professional programmes. However, such content is often offered as an elective rather than one of the core modules. For a large part, western and eurocentric theoretical and therapeutic approaches continue to dominate professional programmes. The linkage between their inclusion and advancing gender equity becomes salient when we consider how psychology is done and enacted in work with women from marginalised communities in particular.

Access to resources and ownership of resources is highly gendered and raced in South Africa. The past apartheid system has meant that, for a long time, psychology has been dominated by white males from privileged socio-economic backgrounds. To what extent has this profile changed to represent a more inclusive and gender-diverse profession? And how has such change translated to empowering women from marginalised communities?

A quick survey of the selection of candidates for the professional Masters’ programmes in psychology across various HE institutions is likely to reveal a skew towards more women candidates. While this may be regarded as progressive, and a ‘good-fit’ given that more women than men tend to access psychological services, such changes may not be adequate in addressing gender equity if the programmes themselves remain primarily individualistic and westernised in their orientation.

Hence, it is pleasing to note the shift towards including more feminist, critical and decolonial perspectives in teaching, research and practice. The Hub for Decolonial Feminist Psychologies in Africa, housed at the Department of Psychology at the University of Cape Town, is a good example.

The Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) itself has seen the emergence of additional Divisions based on membership interest, which, together with the more long-standing and established Divisions, reflect a shift towards more critical approaches to psychology and the communities it serves. More importantly, in terms of the gendered focus of this article, the PsySSA divisions offer practitioners a platform for more critical engagement with the changing landscape and its impact on gender and gender diversity.

The Sexuality and Gender, the Trauma and Violence, and, the Community and Social Psychology divisions, together with more recent additions such as the Decolonial Psychology and the Climate, Environment and Psychology divisions are good examples of how psychology can interrogate issues of gender and gender diversity from multiple, intersectional perspectives.

Being mindful of the power that psychology has, is important in how that power is acknowledged and shared in work with women and gender diverse people, especially people from marginalised communities, in ways that that recognise their power and agency through inclusive psychological practice. This means a move away from individualistic ways of doing, to ways that encourage collaboration and understanding in all areas of work, including community engagement and the therapeutic space.

The recent launch of the second edition of PsySSA’s Practice Guidelines for Psychology Professionals Working with Sexually and Gender-Diverse People marked a culmination of collaboration and dialogue between psychologists, academics and community-based advocates and NGOs working with sexually and gender-diverse people. It is an excellent example of how psychology, through collaboration and engagement with community stakeholders, has made a positive impact in advancing gender equity and the rights of sexually and gender-diverse people.

While this article does not specifically focus on the crisis of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), which is foregrounded in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in the months of November and December, SGBV remains a priority area that psychology has a role to play in working with women and other stakeholders to develop and implement interventions that seek to end violence.

Sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) marks another important priority area for women and sexually and gender-diverse people, especially from marginalised and impoverished communities. This priority area is one in which PsySSA and the Sexuality and Gender Division (SGD) have begun engaging in with the intention to make a meaningful contribution to addressing gender equity and socio-economic justice for women and sexually and gender-diverse people within a rights-based framework.

Increasingly, psychology in South Africa has opened up the spaces for the voices of (marginalised) women to be heard, valued and appreciated through ethical and collaborative research practices and engagements. Their stories of their lived experiences form an integral component in shared knowledge creation. Working with women who share their stories to advance gender equity represents a highly empowering and inclusive practice for women and psychology practitioners.

Psychology has played an important role in challenging attitudes, perceptions and behaviour that perpetuates gender oppression. However, gender cannot be regarded as a stand-alone social category. Psychology needs to adopt a more critical stance that recognises the intersections of gender with other social categories. For example, the inclusion of women with disabilities sadly remain a peripheral afterthought in many programmes and interventions that target women.

The intersections of gender with race and class remain critical when thinking about psychology’s role in promoting socio-economic justice for women and gender-diverse communities as their vulnerability is often heightened. The release and sharing of (psychology’s) power in such contexts is a necessary requirement for work that seeks to recognise agency, heal and build resilience.

The question of psychology’s role in advancing gender equity, promoting socio-economic justice for women and gender diverse communities through inclusive psychological practice, remains a critical question of relevance that we, as ethical practitioners, must engage with on an ongoing basis.

Ultimately, advancing gender equity and promoting socio-economic justice for women and gender diverse communities is about recognising women and gender diverse communities as human – and not “less than human” (Quijano, 2007). This should be a central and foundational principle that underpins psychology’s work with women.

And finally, it is worth pointing out that while we have spoken about ‘psychology’ as a discipline and a practice, psychology does not exist in a separate realm from us. We make up ‘psychology’. We all have a collective and ethical responsibility to work in ways that advance gender equity and promote socio-economic justice for women through collaborative work with women, communities, and other stakeholders such as educators and policy makers.

[1] We acknowledge that the word “rape” may be triggering for people who have experienced sexual violence, and its use in an article with a gendered focus may be viewed as being contentious. However, the word is used to convey the brutality and violence of coloniality, what it took without consent, and specifically, its continued trauma in the lives of the people, especially women, that it violated.

Click Here To Read More

Commemorating Women, Honouring Culture and Embodying Decolonial Ethics of Care Through Women’s Dialogical Spaces

By: Imbumbe Yabafazi and PsySSA’s Decolonising Psychology Division

iGwijo or songs, such as Wathint’abafazi wathint’imbokodo (isiXhosa for “You strike the women, you strike a rock”) commemorate the mass of women who marched to the Union Buildings to protest against pass laws, through the leadership of Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams in 1956. This song has since remained an anthem in Black South African women’s spaces as it carries the sentiment of advocacy for freedom, inclusion and equality not only for the benefit of women, but ultimately for all.

Today, community outreach units like Imbumbe YaBafazi draw from the tradition of igwijo, alongside communal storytelling, affective exchange, praise and dancing, during their regular grassroots dialogues aimed at addressing contemporary societal issues that affect women. Reflecting on journeying with women over the past ten years, we highlight the value of history, culture, integrity, affirmations, and togetherness in these spaces – values which are essential to a decolonised psychology.

Citing the principle that “in the communities where we operate, we map issues affecting families, with a special focus on women” and guided by the belief that women are the cornerstone in sustaining peace, stability and kindness in communities, we aim to ensure that the lived realities and of women remain central to its work. This commitment underscores the importance of recognising both the structural violence and cultural nuances that shape women’s experiences, as well as adopting a participatory approach to problem-solving.

A recurring element in these spaces is the singing of igwijo – songs such as Wathint’abafazi wathint’imbokodo referred to prior, carry sentiment and memory into the spaces where women gather. Commonly sung at Black South African gatherings, including Imbumbe’s dialogue spaces, igwijo such as Eli lizwe nge lamakhosikazi (“This is the land of women / where women reign”) invite all present to reclaim their place in the world, to remember their worth, and to reaffirm their identity. Imbumbe’s founder notes that Africans sing – whether in celebration or in sorrow. iGwijo thus become oral testaments to struggle, triumph, and hope and serve not only as affective expressions, but also as living archives of indigenous modes of knowing, healing, and relating.

At the heart of Imbumbe’s commitment to creating and facilitating these spaces of reconnection lies the belief that well-supported women and youth are the foundation of strong communities. Drawing from the African proverb, ugotshwa usemanzi (isiZulu for “You have to bend the branch while it is still wet”), we prioritise intergenerational dialogue to ensure that futures are shaped before the challenges of life harden potential. This approach ensures communal participation in reshaping narratives which restore dignity, learning and unlearning perspectives, and the transfer of practical tools for both individual and community capacity-building. Ultimately, it encourages young women to take up space in a patriarchal society marked by hegemonic masculinity – one that works to minimise and marginalise them.

Beyond offering a safe space where women can authentically be, grassroots dialogue spaces cultivate shared humanity, transmit local and intergenerational knowledges, and provide cultural grounding. They become spaces of collective consciousness, solidarity-building and community well-being, nurtured through practices of remembrance, resistance, relational accountability, introspection, action, and collective healing in the pursuit of justice. These practices reveal what mainstream psychology, in its Euro-American form, so often misses: that healing is cultural, relational, and more impactful when approached collectively.

Offering a model of embodied collective healing, Imbumbe Yabafazi’s work examples a living praxis of decolonial mental health care and serves as an exemplar for decolonial ethics of care, which are critical to an African-centred decolonised psychology. The honouring of story, song, and ritual in women’s dialogue spaces should thus not be seen as merely performative; rather, these are methodologies of healing –psychosocial, political, cultural, and spiritual interventions – forms of praxis that psychology should engage with seriously in its own transformation, particularly in the African context.

A culturally rooted, community-based approach that values the recognition of historical trauma and the structural conditions shaping mental health, indigenous knowledge systems, and oral traditions, thus positions communal healing as a valid and vital form of psychological practice. Embracing Ubuntu (a Nguni philosophy underpinned by the sentiment that “I am, because we are” or shared humanity) in this way shifts the therapeutic process from an individualised, expert-driven model to one that is collective, participatory, and culturally grounded. Such an approach would also enable local psychology professionals to forge deeper connection and critically engage with the situated experiences, knowledges, and practices that offer healing in communities – often without formal recognition.

Click here to read the statement!

Mandela Day 2025!

by Web Admin | Jul 18, 2025 | Community & Social Psychology Division (CaSP), Mental Health Calendar

PsySSA Commemorates Mandela Day 2025!

It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity

On Mandela Day 2025, PsySSA honours the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela, whose vision of justice, dignity, and equality continues to guide our work as psychologists.

This year’s theme, “It’s Still in Our Hands to Combat Poverty and Inequity,” calls on us to take meaningful action to address the psychological impact of poverty, especially in a country still grappling with deep social and economic divides.

Psychologists have a vital role to play in:

Promoting mental health equity and access in underserved communities,
Addressing the psychological effects of poverty and trauma,
Using our tools to build resilience and dignity in those most affected by injustice.

We invite you to see how PsySSA’s Community and Social Psychology Division (CASP) is leading this year’s Mandela Day campaign—highlighting community action, advocacy, and practical tools for psychologists to make a difference.

“It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” – Nelson Mandela

Let us honour his legacy by putting our values into action.

SANCA Drug Awareness Week 2025

by Web Admin | Jun 24, 2025 | Divisions, Mental Health Calendar, Sexuality and Gender Division (SGD)

Chemsex in South Africa

By Cornelius (Niel) Victor

Chemsex refers to the intentional use of specific psychoactive substances—typically crystal methamphetamine, mephedrone, GHB/GBL, and ketamine—to facilitate, enhance and prolong sexual experiences, usually among men who have sex with men (MSM). It is a subset of sexualised drug use (SDU), which includes any drug or alcohol use to initiate or intensify sex. While all chemsex is SDU, not all SDU qualifies as chemsex; the latter usually involves high-risk substances and sex practices such as group sex, kink-play and extended sessions (Bolmont, 2022; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2019).

Although not fully quantified in South Africa, chemsex appears most prevalent among urban MSM communities (including townships), with higher usage reported in cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg. A seven-city survey found that 11% of MSM in Cape Town, and 4% of MSM in Johannesburg, recently used crystal meth. There is a significant overlap between drug use and sexual risk-taking, with a high prevalence of injecting drug use. HIV prevalence among MSM engaged in chemsex are high—up to nearly 40% in some samples—and care retention is poor (exacerbated by lack of services in some areas). Furthermore, widespread experience of sexual and physical violence is reported in some studies, driven in part by the impact of stigma and strained relationships due to sexual-substance use. MSM in urban area’s often arrange to meet in private parties or sex-on-site venues primarily using digital networks. MSM in townships are likely to meet offline in chemsex-houses where substances are exchanged often for sex, money or both for extended periods (days/weeks) (De Barros, 2024; Mainline, n.d.; Scheibe et al., 2020, Slabbert et al., 2024).

As South Africa finds rising substance-use especially in sexual circumstances, mental health professionals are vital to addressing this shift. Psychologists can support individuals with problematic chemsex use through affirmative, culturally informed, non-judgmental, and integrated care. This can include engaging in evidence-based policy advocacy, contribute to inclusive education and training, participate in harm reduction research, and offer sex-positive psychotherapy. Trauma-informed approaches are essential, as many users have histories of stigma, abuse, or mental illness. Psychotherapy can assist with coping and behaviour change, including developing intimacy strategies for sober sex. Pharmacotherapy can be a consideration in dealing with dependence and mood disorders. Harm reduction strategies include providing chemsex kits, sterile injecting equipment, and safer sex education. Community engagement—through peer support, LGBTQIA+ organisations, and digital outreach—enhances trust and access to services (Pozo-Herce et al., 2024).

Useful Resources

OUT LGBT Wellbeing has been particularly active in this area of work. Check them out on https://out.org.za/other-projects/. OUT, through its donor-funded clinics in areas like Soweto, provides integrated sexual health, psychosocial, and mental health services for chemsex-using men. OUT’s innovations include an AI-driven WhatsApp chatbot and hotline service, making non-judgmental support and harm reduction advice more accessible (see https://www.mambaonline.com/2024/11/18/chemsex-harm-reduction-ai-chatbot-aims-to-tackle-stigma-and-improve-health/). OUT has also facilitated the training of numerous health-care professionals in sexualized substance use, chemsex as well as harm reduction practices to advise men having chemsex supportively.
The Southern African HIV Clinicians Society guidelines for harm reduction (2020) available on https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/1161/2171.
Harm Reduction International’s briefing note titled ‘Chemsex and harm reduction for gay men and other men who have sex with men’ (2021) available on https://hri.global/publications/chemsex-and-harm-reduction-for-gay-men-and-other-men-who-have-sex-with-men/

References

Bolmont, M., Tshikung, O. N., & Trellu, L. T. (2022). Chemsex, a contemporary challenge for public health. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 19(8), 1210–1213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.03.616

De Barros, L. (2024, April 25). New project tackles health needs of Soweto MSM engaged in chemsex. MambaOnline. https://www.mambaonline.com/2024/04/25/new-project-tackles-health-needs-of-soweto-msm-engaged-in-chemsex/

Mainline. (n.d.). Assessment of chemsex scene in South African townships. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://mainline.nl/en/projects/chemsex-south-african-townships/

Pozo-Herce, P. D., Martínez-Sabater, A., Sanchez-Palomares, P., Garcia-Boaventura, P. C., Chover-Sierra, E., Martínez-Pascual, R., Gea-Caballero, V., Saus-Ortega, C., Ballestar-Tarín, M. L., Karniej, P., Baca-García, E., & Juárez-Vela, R. (2024). Effectiveness of harm reduction interventions in chemsex: A systematic review. Healthcare, 12(14), 1411. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141411

Scheibe, A., Young, K., Versfeld, A., Spearman, C. W., Sonderup, M. W., Prabdial-Sing, N., Puren, A., & Hausler, H. (2020). Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV prevalence and related sexual and substance use risk practices among key populations who access HIV prevention, treatment and related services in South Africa: Findings from a seven-city cross-sectional survey (2017). BMC Infectious Diseases, 20(1), 655. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05359-y

Slabbert, M., Nel, D., Mjindi, S., & Cassim, N. (2024). Values and preferences of men who have sex with men for chemsex harm reduction guidelines in South Africa: A qualitative study [Unpublished manuscript submitted to the World Health Organization].

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2019). HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for people who use stimulant drugs: Technical guide. Vienna, Austria: United Nations.

About the Author

Dr. Cornelius (Niel) Victor

(he/him)

I am a Clinical and Research Psychologist based in Cape Town, South Africa. I hold a PhD in Psychology from UNISA, along with master’s degrees in both clinical and research psychology. Before moving into clinical practice, I spent two decades in the market research industry. My transition to psychology followed a personal turning point—recovering from cancer in 2010—which reshaped how I wanted to engage with people and their stories.

In my current practice, I provide psychotherapy to a diverse range of clients and work as part of multidisciplinary teams at several clinics. I also have a strong academic and training focus, particularly in LGBTQIA+ Psychology. Over the years, I’ve contributed to journal articles, guest lectures, and facilitated professional training courses aimed at improving inclusive, affirming care.

Since 2012, I’ve been involved with the Psychological Society of South Africa’s Sexuality and Gender Division (PsySSA SGD), particularly through the African LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Project. I co-led the development of the PsySSA Practice Guidelines for working with sexually and gender-diverse people—an area closely linked to my PhD research, which explored how South African psychologists understand and practice affirmative therapy with sexually diverse clients.

I’m a member of the Professional Association for Transgender Health South Africa and remain committed to supporting evidence-based, contextually aware, and affirming psychological practices in our local landscape.

ORCID ID: https://orchid.org/0000-0002-0919-1937

Youth Day 2025

by Web Admin | Jun 15, 2025 | Mental Health Calendar, Student Division (SD)

Youth Day 2025: Skills for the Changing World

Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation

In commemoration of Youth Day on 16 June 2025, the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) Student Division proudly presents a comprehensive awareness campaign under the theme:

“Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.”

This theme underscores the urgent need to equip South Africa’s youth with relevant, future-ready skills that empower them to thrive in an increasingly digitised, competitive, and evolving labour market.

Download our Infographics, Read the Full Blog, and Watch the Campaign Video
Explore more resources on our [Student Division Page] and follow the conversation on social media with #YouthDay2025 #SkillsForChange #PsySSAYouth

Youth Day 2025

SA Youth Unemployment Rate

Psychosocial Impact of Unemployment

Solutions

Key Factors Affecting Youth Employability

Click here to read the Student Division Blog: Empowering South African Youth for Economic Participation

Men’s Health Month 2025

by Web Admin | Jun 9, 2025 | Division for Research and Methodology (DRM), Mental Health Calendar

Men’s Health Month 2025

Read our submissions from The DRM, SASCP and the AI Division!

As we mark Men’s Mental Health Month this June, the Division for Research and Methodology (DRM) of PsySSA reflects critically on the evolving discourse around men’s psychological well-being in South Africa. Despite growing awareness, men remain significantly underrepresented in mental health service use, often constrained by dominant ideals of masculinity that equate vulnerability with weakness.

In this short video and companion article, Executive Committee member Omphile Rammopo offers a timely and thought-provoking exploration into how mental health support for men can move beyond awareness toward action. Drawing from clinical insight, personal observation, and grounded local research, Rammopo challenges us to rethink therapeutic approaches that may inadvertently alienate men—and invites us to consider new, culturally relevant, strength-based frameworks.

Produced in collaboration with the DRM, this offering is both a call to reflection and a catalyst for transformation. As psychologists, researchers, and mental health advocates, we are urged not only to ask “Where to from here?”—but to act decisively in shaping support systems that resonate with the lived experiences of men across our diverse society.

#MensMentalHealthMonth #PsySSA #DRM #MentalHealthMatters #MasculinitiesInContext #PsychologyForSocialJustice

Men’s Mental Health Month 2025

By Sibusiso Vilakazi and Barry Viljoen

The month of June is dedicated to the awareness of Men’s Mental Health. The goal of which is to shine a light on and raise awareness regarding the unique mental health challenges faced by men. While there has been positive change in this regard, many men still continue to struggle in silence. One of the reasons for this could be as a result of societal expectations and the subsequent sigma, both internally and externally regarding the expression of vulnerability.

We know that statistically men are less likely to seek mental health support, which can and sadly often does lead to serious consequences. One such example being the higher suicide rates by men. It is hope that by giving a platform to these topics that friends, families, and communities will be encouraged to create safe spaces which are free of judgment and scrutiny. Reminding us that seeking help is a sign of strength and not that of weakness. Once again demonstrating that mental health is as important as that of physical health.

In this month we hope to break barriers by encouraging open conversations, which promote mental wellness and support those seeking the assistance required. In so doing we have collaborated with Sibusiso Vilakazi to share with us some of the work which he and his organisation are doing, to achieve these goals.

Brother’s Keeper SA (BKSA) is a men-only non-profit and registered organisation. BKSA serves as a support network and structure for men. It was established premised on the realisation that men do not have platforms through which they can be vulnerable and express their feelings and challenges. Unemployment, underemployment and a myriad of societal issues continue to beset men, resulting in psycho-emotional conditions such as stress, depression and, in extreme cases, suicide, substance abuse and propensity to criminal behaviour and detainment. In a world that prioritises and advances the rights and developmental needs of other members of society, little focus is devoted to the needs and a plethora of challenges that confronting men daily in South Africa. The number of men who are apprehended continue to rise, although it is understood that multiple factors account for this. BKSA loathes the acts of men who harm women.

BKSA came into existence at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic; at a time when greater support was needed, as the effects of pandemic were felt throughout the world. It was during this time when some men lost their jobs and some lost their spouses due to Covid-19. It exists as a mechanism for providing a support network and structure for men to freely express their frustrations, challenges and needs in a space that is welcoming and free of prejudice and judgement.

BKSA hosts virtual support sessions monthly on Thursdays. Topics covered include social and emotional support, mental health, family issues, career development, financial health and physical health and fitness. Since its establishment, the organisation has developed an ongoing good relationship with practitioners and professionals across various fields. Ultimately, the organisation seeks to establish a formalised partnership with this network of professionals to enable sustainability of interventions and structured support services such as counselling, mentoring and coaching. Equally important, the organisation will partner with like-minded organisations whose mandates are geared towards development of men. It is through partnership that the organisation will be able to expand and widen its reach throughout the country.

BKSA observes local and international campaigns. The ultimate aim is to create a community of men who will be responsible, caring and able to be receptive to help and support. Men who participate in BKSA learn about how to be responsible in their communities, families and workplaces and responsive to the needs of their communities. There’s a sense of brotherhood and collective responsibility that is engendered through participation in BKSA.

In terms of how we operationalise our services, we identify men-related issues and:

Raise awareness by running and supporting campaigns
Referral to professional services and support

Targeted support, such as one-on-one intervention (mentorship)

Community presentations
Recreational activities

While our organisation has experienced a gradual increase in numbers, we intend to continually diversify our approach to topical issues and interventionary strategies. Whether participants are dealing with relationship issues, financial difficulties and mental health concerns or require any other form of support, our team is readily available to support them. While we maintain that we do not offer clinical, therapeutic or medical diagnosis or intervention, our platform exposes participants to qualified and seasoned experts in the various spheres of counsel and guidance to ensure appropriate approaches to healing.

The vision of the organisation ideates the creation of a safe, supportive and holistic community that encourages a culture of expressive, emotionally conscious and self-aware men as they navigate their lived experiences in an ever-changing world. To produce men who are psycho-emotionally healthy and resilient. We seek to build a transformational space for men and encourage authenticity and accountable men who contribute positively to a healthier society.

Men’s Health Month 2025: Listening Beyond the Silence
By Dr Ewald Crause
For the Psychological Society of South Africa

June is Men’s Health Month. But for many men in South Africa, health remains something unspoken. Not due to a lack of problems, but because speaking comes at a cost. In too many homes, clinics, and counselling rooms, silence has become the strategy. And for many men, silence is safer than honesty.

This year’s theme, “Check In, Not Out”, calls for early intervention and preventative care. It is a message that needs to land differently here. Because in the South African context, men are not simply failing to check in with doctors or therapists. They’re also checking out of themselves, their families, and for some, even their futures.

As psychology practitioners and academics, we observe it in statistics and sense it in the absences and silences. The man who doesn’t return for a second session. The father who disappears from the school meeting. The young adult whose first appointment only comes after an attempt. For too many, help arrives too late.

Behind these moments are pressures that psychology professionals know well. High rates of unemployment. Cycles of intergenerational trauma. The burden of being the provider, even when there is nothing left to give. Social scripts that still reward men for being silent, stoic, and self-contained…until they break.

In practice, male clients often arrive not because they chose therapy, but because someone else did. A partner insisted. A boss threatened. A court ordered. When they do arrive, they rarely use clinical language. They don’t say “anxiety” or “depression.” They talk about pressure. Sleeplessness. Losing control. Being “off.” These are not just linguistic differences. They are warnings. If we are not listening closely, we miss the distress altogether.

To work effectively with men, our role is not to convince them to talk. It is to ensure that when they do, they are heard without judgment, interruption, or interpretation. That our language doesn’t assume help-seeking is familiar or safe. That we acknowledge the resistance without reinforcing it.

Intervention needs to be practical, not idealistic. Most men are not looking for long-term therapy. They are looking for something that works. Brief interventions, solution-focused conversations, peer models, role clarity, and support that aligns with their roles as workers, fathers, sons, or leaders. Respect matters. So does structure. So does knowing when to step back and refer.

But this is not only about individual therapy. It is about the systems in which we operate. Access to care is uneven. Services in rural and peri-urban areas remain difficult to reach. Long waiting lists in the public sector often mean that prevention becomes impossible. For many men, especially working-class men, there is no clear path between noticing that something is wrong and receiving the support to address it. That space between is where we lose them.

This month must not be reduced to awareness slogans. The work is not about getting men to speak. It is about creating spaces where they do not have to defend their pain. It is about reducing the threshold for help. About making support a familiar part of life, not a crisis response. About including men in the broader mental health conversation without assuming they already know the terms of engagement.

To the men reading this: this month is not a campaign. It is a reminder that your life matters. That survival is not the only goal. That checking in is a strength, not a liability. That you are not meant to carry everything alone.

To the psychology professionals reading this: we can change the trajectory. To create systems, practices, and messages that speak to men without demanding that they first speak like us. That is the challenge. That is the opportunity.

Let’s meet men where there are, not where society expects them to be. And not just in June, but in the work we do every day.

PsySSA commemorates Child Protection Week (29 May – 5 June 2025)

by Web Admin | May 29, 2025 | Child and Adolescent Psychology, Divisions, Mental Health Calendar, Society for Educational Psychology of South Africa (SEPSA), Trauma and Violence Division (TVD)

PsySSA commemorates Child Protection Week (29 May – 5 June 2025)

Every conversation matters

Role of Faith based leaders in the Protection of Women and Children

Author: Dr.Guru Kistnasamy

Historically the interpretation and misinterpretation of the scriptures of various Faiths together with its practice and implementation by Religious Leaders, resulted in the abuse or the protection of the vulnerable amongst us, women and children.

In ancient times women and children were considered dispensable and were even killed in the form of sacrifices in various parts of the world. In India, there was a time when widows were burnt to death after the death of their husbands. This conceptualization of the vulnerable coupled with a patriarchal attitude, served to keep women and children in servitude.

Today we find a similar attitude that results in the rape and sexual molestation of women and children by men. What is shocking today is that we find that these perpetrators are men entrusted with the protection of these victims.

A few recent examples of Faith Leaders accused of abusing their so called “sacred” positions include:

Timothy Omotoso accused of 32 counts of rape, human trafficking, and racketeering. He was acquitted by the Justice System. Now the Minister of Justice is asking for an enquiry.
A prominent Bishop accused of raping and sexually assaulting members of his congregation. The trial is continuing.
A Hindu priest accused of raping a 12 year old boy appeared in the Tongaat Court.
A Hindu priest accused of intimately touching a devotee appeared in Verulam Court.
2 boys alleged a Moulana raped them in Germiston.

Prevalence of Gender Based Violence in South Africa.

An article published in the journal of Social and Development Sciences in 2024, revealed that 55.38% of respondents reported being victims of violence in places of worship.

A fact sheet on “Baseline Survey on Victimisation and Perpetration” issued by the HSRC in 2024 indicated the following:

Lifetime physical and/or sexual violence of women aged 18 years and over: 35.5%, translating into 7,847.438 women.

According to Statistics South Africa, we have the highest rate of femicide in the world. One out of four women have experienced GBV, and one out of three children have experienced physical violence and sexual violence before they turned 18. (Ref. “Gender-based violence as a destructive form of warfare against families, a practical theological response-2023”).

Psychological Aspects of Religious Abuse.

Psychological Abuse refers to psychological manipulation and harm inflicted on a person by using the teachings of their religion. It is often directed to children and emotionally vulnerable adults. The abuse may result in mental health issues such as depression, phobias, dissociative disorders, paranoia, anxiety, and insomnia The victim may not report the matter because of guilt, shame, fear of being ostracized or losing a privilege.

What is Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse has been expressed as an exploitation of spiritual authority to manipulate, control, use or harm others through means such as shame, fear and indoctrination. Examples may include sexual abuse, extortion of money, suicidal attempts and even suicide. Spiritual abuse is said to support other forms of GBV.

What can Religious Leaders do to Protect the Vulnerable?

Concerns of the public were raised at government level about abuse in religious institutions and by their leaders. In 2017 Hearings were held in Parliament where submissions were made by 18 religious organisations on the recommendations and proposals of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities.

This clearly indicated that there must be some form of regulation of religious institutions through mandatory registration, licensing, and monitoring.

Religious communities need to actively promote the equality and protection of genders. Places of worship are ideally suited for this discourse. Various sources of literature point us in the right direction in achieving this goal.

The Interfaith GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy 2024-2030 is the result of a national consultation process of scholars, activists and leaders. It was strengthened by the We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA). It includes partners from the following faiths: African Traditional, Baha’I, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Their goal is to mobilize and equip the faith sector to address GBV more effectively.

The Interfaith GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy 2024-2030 was released in October 2024. The following is a summary of the commitments of the members of the faith sector in actively, intentionally and collaboratively supporting efforts to mitigate GBV by:

Including spiritual abuse as a type of GBV;
Being vocal and transparent about exposing GBV;
Dismantling the culture where victims are silenced;
Amplifying texts, traditions, rituals, ceremonies and symbols that promote dignity, gender equality and justice, and to change these where gender inequity or GBV is encouraged;
Becoming integrally involved in South Africa’s multi-sectoral efforts to prevent or respond to GBV;
Improving accountability measures and developing a joint policy to guide the sector’s work;

Conclusion.

It is important that leaders of all faiths subscribe to the principles of the Interfaith GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy 2024-2030 so as to address the problem of GBV as a united national front in South Africa.

Therefore it is equally important that there be a qualification, monitoring and regulating process for aspiring spiritual leaders to join the faith sector. This will minimize abuse of the vulnerable by leaders of faith.

25/04/2025.

Click Here To Read The Full Article

A call for Psychologists to champion child rights during Child Protection Week, and beyond

The Trauma and Violence Division

National Child Protection week, commemorated between the 29^th of May and the 5^th of June, seeks to remind citizens of the rights of children enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa and the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005). On the 11^th of May 2025 the Department of Social Development launched Child Protection Month with the theme ‘Working Together to End Violence Against Children.’ Child sexual abuse has been highlighted as the main focus (Department of Social Development, 2025).

Sexual assault cases for female children aged 17 and younger increased from a harrowing 82.7% in 2015/2016 to 87.6% in 2019/2020 in South Africa (Stats SA, 2024). Female children are more likely to experience statutory rape, sexual assault and rape than male children (Stats SA, 2024). However, challenges with the reporting of such crimes across all genders remain, leading to underreporting.

This Child Protection Week, the Department of Social Development has called on various healthcare sectors to become part of a multidisciplinary approach addressing this pandemic (Department of Social Development, 2025). In response to the call to action, psychologists can advocate for children’s rights and uphold their best interests beyond the confines of therapy rooms, lecture halls, and academic journals. Psychological professionals, including psychologists, registered counsellors and psychometrists should:

Report suspected child abuse and neglect to the relevant authorities as outlined in Section 110 the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005) and Section 54 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matter) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. This is not discretionary but mandatory and is essential to safeguarding child clients. Ensuring that we fulfil this duty is key in us upholding children’s rights.
Maintain competency in working with child survivors of abuse. Guidelines and interventions for trauma work are continuously developing. Staying informed and continuously developing our professional skillset can assist us in ensuring that children do not experience secondary traumatisation, including within the therapy room (Van Niekerk & Coetzee, 2020).
Catalyse change at a systemic level through research and advocacy efforts, to ensure transformation beyond the therapy room (Schiller et al., 2023). Psychologists can advance and disseminate research in the area of child abuse and associated psychological sequalae to ultimately draw attention to the need for policy change. Rather than duplicating effort, psychologists can use their expertise to assist non-governmental organisations and advocacy groups at the forefront of the fight against child abuse.

As a profession and association of professionals, we can lobby for the employment of mental health professionals within the government sector, to ensure the provision of quality, timeous services that promote preventative and ameliorative initiatives.

Systemic issues require systemic interventions but they need not be complicated. So, whether your advocacy is at an individual level within the therapy room, or at a macro-level with major stakeholders, consider how you can uphold children’s rights this Child Protection Month.

Click Here To Read The Full Article

The South African Association for Counselling Psychology

Watch the SAACP’s contribution to Child Protection Week 2025 below!

Click here to watch the contribution!

Danielle Moosajie

Director: Arise

Danielle Moosajie is a qualified social worker with a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Management from the University of Cape Town. With over 14 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to working with children and families on the Cape Flats. Her professional background spans both the corporate sector – where she specialized in change management – and academia, having lectured and contributed to numerous community-based initiatives.

Danielle is also a wife and mother of three. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys exploring Cape Town’s natural beauty and sampling good food. She is passionate about ensuring every child feels loved and valued, and she is committed to encouraging South Africans to build meaningful connections beyond their usual boundaries.

Contact: danielle@arisefamily.org

« Older Entries