Letter sent to the Sunday Times; July 2014:
There are limited posts for psychologists in state and welfare services. The historical lack of mental health services in South Africa is in serious need of redress. One way in which educational psychologists may reach more members is through their work in school communities and other mental health settings. Despite some misguided attempts to limit the functions of educational psychologists, educational psychologists are well positioned to assist the development - learning, cognitive, mental, neuropsychological, behavioural, social and emotional - of children, youth, adults, families and communities. Educational psychologists often work with clients with primary or comorbid presentations that include disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence; cognitive disorders; mental disorders due to medical conditions; substance-related disorders; mood disorders; anxiety disorders; sexual and gender identity disorders; eating disorders; sleep disorders; adjustment disorders; and personality disorders. They may also deal with somatoform disorders, fictitious disorders and impulse control disorders. Less often, some educational psychologists work with clients who experience schizophrenia; other psychotic disorders; and delirium, dementia and amnestic disorder. The chairpersons of the Educational Psychology Division of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PSYSSA), the newly launched Educational Psychology Association of South Africa (EPASSA) and the South African School Psychologists' Association (SASPA) support the call for the development of a National Mental Health Strategy and Plan as discussed in the journal Global Health Action (see http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/24589 ).
The above letter was published on 20 July 2014 with some editorial changes (Download below)