South Africa: Launch of landmark guidelines on sexual and gender diversity

Date:  Thursday, 19 April 2018
Time:  18h00
Place:  Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre
            1 Duncombe Road, Forest Town
            (Please note this is venue change)

This Thursday, 19 April 2018, the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) will launch the first-ever South African practice guidelines for psychology professionals working with sexually and gender-diverse people. The launch will be addressed by Prof Mzikazi Nduna, Head of the School of Human and Community Development at the University of the Witwatersrand.
 
“The guidelines provide an accessible tool for those in the helping professions to equip themselves and grow their confidence in working with sexual and gender diversity in an affirmative and relevant way”, says Prof Juan Nel, research professor at UNISA and co-author of the guidelines.
 
The guidelines aim to increase psychological knowledge of human diversity in sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, and to facilitate the application of this knowledge amongst psychology professionals. They build on PsySSA’s groundbreaking Position Statement on Sexual and Gender Diversity and offer a blueprint for mental health service providers to respond to the wellbeing and human rights of all sexually and gender-diverse people.
 
According to Dr Peace Kiguwa, chair of the Sexuality and Gender Division of PsySSA, “psychologists play a powerful role in a society such as ours which is characterised by histories of oppression and inequality, including against people who are sexually and gender-diverse. It behooves psychologists to expand their own knowledge and practice in ways that support and affirm the needs and experiences of sexually and gender-diverse persons. The guidelines provide a tool for just that”.
 
The Practice Guidelines for Psychology Professionals Working with Sexually and Gender-Diverse People is a collaboration of PsySSA’s Sexuality and Gender Division, the International Psychology Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Issues, and the PsySSA African LGBTI Human Rights Project.
 
Copies of the guidelines will be made available at the launch.
 
For media interviews contact:
Melanie Judge
+27 83 2712543
Melanie@justcommunication.co.za
 
About PsySSA:
Formed in 1994, the Psychological Society of South Africa is the professional body that represents psychology professionals in South Africa. PsySSA advances South African psychology as a science and profession of global stature, and promotes psychological praxis as relevant, proactive and responsive to societal needs and wellbeing.
 
END
Issued by Just Communication on 16 April 2018

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