{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T09:10:05Z","timestamp":1790154605825,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790121600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Health Serv."],"abstract":"<jats:p>South African labour legislation and organizational policies provide fragmented and largely reactive entry points for employee mental health protection, yet the discursive mechanisms through which this pattern is reproduced remain underexamined. This study reports a qualitative documentary analysis of how legislative and organizational policy texts construct employee mental health in South Africa and considers the implications of these constructions for psychosocial safety climate (PSC) and the constitutional rights to dignity, equality, and access to healthcare services. A Fairclough-informed critical discourse analysis was applied to four principal employment statutes, namely the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Employment Equity Act, and twelve purposively sampled organizational mental health policies from the public, private and non-profit sectors across five provinces. The analysis was structured by three regulatory dimensions: psychosocial hazard prevention, reasonable accommodation for psychosocial disability and protection from mental health-related discrimination. Although the statutes provide partial and indirect protections, mental health was constructed predominantly through discourses of incapacity, physical safety, and residual disability, with limited textual emphasis on proactive psychosocial risk prevention. The organizational policies largely reproduced these constructions and reflected cultural invisibility and a lack of comprehensive accountability mechanisms. Employees were positioned primarily as recipients of discretionary, individually initiated support rather than as rights-bearers entitled to structural protection. Trade unions and other collective mechanisms were also largely absent from mental health governance. These patterns may constrain the regulatory and organizational conditions associated with a strong PSC, although PSC and employee outcomes were not measured. The study recommends explicit psychosocial risk provisions, strengthened accommodation for psychosocial disability, culturally responsive policy design, preventative human resource practices and the inclusion of psychosocial working conditions within collective bargaining. The findings demonstrate how legislative and policy discourse may shape organizational mental health governance in an upper-middle-income economy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/frhs.2026.1879780","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T08:45:16Z","timestamp":1790153116000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Discursive constructions of employee mental health in South African labour legislation and organizational policy: implications for psychosocial safety climate"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Nthabeleng Innocentia","family":"Mdhluli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, University of South Africa","place":["Pretoria, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1136\/oemed-2016-104015","article-title":"Can work make you mentally ill? A systematic meta-review of work-related risk factors for common mental health problems","volume":"74","author":"Harvey","year":"2017","journal-title":"Occup Environ Med"},{"key":"B2","volume-title":"World Mental health Report: Transforming Mental health for all","year":"2022"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1037\/a0038166","article-title":"A national standard for psychosocial safety climate (PSC): pSC 25 as the benchmark for low risk of job strain and depressive symptoms","volume":"20","author":"Bailey","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Occup Health Psychol"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"579","DOI":"10.1348\/096317909X470690","article-title":"Psychosocial safety climate as a precursor to conducive work environments, psychological health problems, and employee engagement","volume":"83","author":"Dollard","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Occup Organ Psychol"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105854","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssci.2022.105854","article-title":"Evaluation of national work-related psychosocial risk management policies: an international review of the literature","volume":"154","author":"Potter","year":"2022","journal-title":"Saf Sci"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1850","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17061850","article-title":"Trends in suicide mortality in South Africa, 1997 to 2016","volume":"17","author":"Kootbodien","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9427","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-021-02236-y","article-title":"Mental health stigma experiences among caregivers and service users in South Africa: a qualitative investigation","volume":"42","author":"Monnapula-Mazabane","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr Psychol"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"706","DOI":"10.1093\/heapol\/czz085","article-title":"Mental health system costs, resources and constraints in South Africa: a national survey","volume":"34","author":"Docrat","year":"2019","journal-title":"Health Policy Plan"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1553","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(18)31612-X","article-title":"The lancet commission on global mental health and sustainable development","volume":"392","author":"Patel","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315834368","volume-title":"Critical Discourse analysis: The Critical study of Language","author":"Fairclough","year":"2013"},{"key":"B11","volume-title":"Methods of Critical discourse Studies","author":"Wodak","year":"2015"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.18690\/mls.17.1.109-130.2024","article-title":"Mental health challenges in the educational landscape of Serbia: exploring academic and legal perspectives","volume":"17","author":"\u0160kobo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med Law Soc"},{"key":"B13","volume-title":"World Bank Country and Lending Groups: Fiscal Year 2027","year":"2026"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4102\/sajesbm.v11i1.233","article-title":"Small business barriers to occupational health and safety compliance","volume":"11","author":"Esterhuyzen","year":"2019","journal-title":"South African J Entrep Small Bus Manag"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.2478\/v10001-010-0024-5","article-title":"Psychosocial risks and work-related stress in developing countries: health impact, priorities, barriers and solutions","volume":"23","author":"Kortum","year":"2010","journal-title":"Int J Occup Med Environ Health"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.13075\/ijomeh.1896.01553","article-title":"Employment precariousness and mental health, understanding a complex reality: a systematic review","volume":"33","author":"Utzet","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Occup Med Environ Health"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1985","DOI":"10.1007\/s40615-022-01380-w","article-title":"Structural racism, workforce diversity, and mental health disparities: a critical review","volume":"10","author":"Kyere","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Racial Ethn Health Disparities"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(18)30060-9","article-title":"Social determinants of mental disorders and the sustainable development goals: a systematic review of reviews","volume":"5","author":"Lund","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet Psychiatry"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1080\/18387357.2021.1938153","article-title":"Determinants of employee mental health in the South African public service: the role of organizational citizenship behaviours and workplace social support","volume":"19","author":"Mathibe","year":"2021","journal-title":"Adv Ment Health"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"995","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-220688","article-title":"A human resource professional perspective of strategies to accommodate employees with mental health conditions in the workplace in South Africa","volume":"78","author":"Soeker","year":"2024","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"342","DOI":"10.1080\/09540261.2016.1211095","article-title":"Mental health for nations","volume":"28","author":"Bhugra","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int Rev Psychiatry"},{"key":"B22","volume-title":"Labour law in Practice: A Guide for South African Employers","author":"Levy","year":"2021"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.47348\/SAMLJ\/v33\/i1a2","article-title":"COVID-19 and employment law in South Africa: comparative perspectives on selected themes","volume":"33","author":"Ndlovu","year":"2021","journal-title":"SA Mercantile Law J"},{"key":"B24","volume-title":"Health Impact of Psychosocial hazards at Work: An Overview","author":"Leka","year":"2018"},{"key":"B25","first-page":"1436","article-title":"Does South African labour legislation provide adequate protection for mental illness in the workplace?","volume":"39","author":"Nxumalo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ind Law J"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780192843258.001.0001","volume-title":"Mental Health law: Abolish or Reform?","author":"Wilson","year":"2021"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.17159\/2310-3833\/2024\/vol54no1a5","article-title":"Cultural perspectives and experiences of mental healthcare in KwaZulu-natal, South Africa","volume":"54","author":"Moonsamy","year":"2024","journal-title":"S Afr J Occup Ther"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2272","DOI":"10.3109\/09638288.2012.681005","article-title":"South African mental health care service user views on priorities for supporting recovery: implications for policy and service development","volume":"34","author":"Kleintjes","year":"2012","journal-title":"Disabil Rehabil"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.17159\/1727-3781\/2024\/v27i0a17921","article-title":"The protection of human rights in South Africa: unpacking the duty of the state to realise the right to development","volume":"27","author":"Fobosi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Potchefstroom Electron Law J"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3632","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18073632","article-title":"The role of occupational health services in psychosocial risk management and the promotion of mental health and well-being at work","volume":"18","author":"Jain","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B31","first-page":"1","article-title":"Reimagining the mental health paradigm for our collective well-being","volume":"22","author":"Chapman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Hum Rights"},{"key":"B32","first-page":"35","article-title":"Addressing the problem of severe underinvestment in mental health and well-being from a human rights perspective","volume":"22","author":"Mahomed","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Hum Rights"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"184","DOI":"10.2307\/j.ctvpb3xhh.16","article-title":"Teachers\u2019 workplace and personal wellness: perspectives from South African legislation and policies","volume-title":"Rethinking Teacher Education for the 21st Century: Trends, Challenges and New Directions","author":"Kruger","year":"2019"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4396","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph16224396","article-title":"Workplace-based organizational interventions promoting mental health and happiness among healthcare workers: a realist review","volume":"16","author":"Gray","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B35","volume-title":"Transition from Below: Forging Trade Unionism and Workplace Change in South Africa","author":"Von Holdt","year":"2003"},{"key":"B36","volume-title":"Rethinking the Labour Movement in the \u2018New South Africa\u2019","author":"Bramble","year":"2003"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"751","DOI":"10.26618\/ojip.v14i3.15265","article-title":"A theory-based analysis of labour unions in the South African public service","volume":"14","author":"Rulashe","year":"2024","journal-title":"Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.20473\/jgar.v6i1.73448","article-title":"The impact of labour union fragmentation on service delivery in the South African public sector","volume":"6","author":"Rulashe","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Gov Adm Reform"},{"key":"B39","volume-title":"Qualitative Research and Evaluation methods","author":"Patton","year":"2015"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.47348\/YSAL\/v1\/i1a15","article-title":"Labour law","volume":"1","author":"Grogan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Yearbook of South African Law"},{"key":"B41","volume-title":"ISO 45003:2021 Occupational Health and Safety management: Psychological Health and Safety at Work: Guidelines for Managing psychosocial Risks","year":"2021"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1093\/icon\/moae047","article-title":"Care as a constitutional value","volume":"22","author":"Fredman","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Const Law"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"828","DOI":"10.30574\/ijsra.2024.11.1.0153","article-title":"Reviewing employee well-being and mental health initiatives in contemporary HR practices","volume":"11","author":"Elufioye","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Sci Res Arch"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1111\/1748-8583.12139","article-title":"Human resource management and employee well-being: towards a new analytic framework","volume":"27","author":"Guest","year":"2017","journal-title":"Hum Resour Manag J"},{"key":"B45","volume-title":"The Wellness syndrome","author":"Cederstr\u00f6m","year":"2015"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/1359432X.2017.1374245","article-title":"Evaluating the effectiveness of employee assistance programmes: a systematic review","volume":"27","author":"Joseph","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur J Work Organ Psychol"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-8583.2012.00206.x","article-title":"Explaining variations in absence rates: temporary and agency workers in the food manufacturing sector","volume":"24","author":"Hopkins","year":"2014","journal-title":"Hum Resour Manag J"},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1007\/s00420-019-01416-5","article-title":"Consideration of psychosocial factors in workplace risk assessments: findings from a company survey in Germany","volume":"92","author":"Beck","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int Arch Occup Environ Health"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1057\/9781137329608","volume-title":"Mental Health worldwide: Culture, Globalisation and Development","author":"Fernando","year":"2014"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"596","DOI":"10.1111\/gwao.12111","article-title":"If I had a family, there is no way that I could afford to work here: juggling paid and unpaid care work in social services","volume":"22","author":"Charlesworth","year":"2015","journal-title":"Gend Work Organ"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.5271\/sjweh.3529","article-title":"Systematic review of qualitative literature on occupational health and safety legislation and regulatory enforcement planning and implementation","volume":"42","author":"MacEachen","year":"2016","journal-title":"Scand J Work Environ Health"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssci.2014.05.020","article-title":"Barriers to OHS interventions in small and medium-sized enterprises","volume":"71","author":"Masi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Saf Sci"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"444","DOI":"10.1080\/01446193.2015.1013045","article-title":"Legitimizing public health control on sites? A critical discourse analysis of the responsibility deal construction pledge","volume":"33","author":"Sherratt","year":"2015","journal-title":"Constr Manag Econ"},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100206","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssmmh.2023.100206","article-title":"History and politics of mental health policy and care in South Africa","volume":"3","author":"Kleintjes","year":"2023","journal-title":"SSM Ment Health"},{"key":"B55","volume-title":"Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work","year":"2022"},{"key":"B56","volume-title":"Tackling Work-Related Stress Using the Management Standards Approach: A Step-by-Step Workbook. WBK01 (rev1)","year":"2019"},{"key":"B57","volume-title":"Framework Agreement on Work-Related Stress","year":"2004"},{"key":"B58","year":"2018"},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1539\/joh.O10010","article-title":"The development of the European framework for psychosocial risk management: PRIMA-EF","volume":"53","author":"Leka","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Occup Health"},{"key":"B60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"482","DOI":"10.1016\/j.shaw.2019.10.002","article-title":"The third version of the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire","volume":"10","author":"Burr","year":"2019","journal-title":"Saf Health Work"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Health Services"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/frhs.2026.1879780\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T08:45:20Z","timestamp":1790153120000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/frhs.2026.1879780\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]]},"references-count":60,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/frhs.2026.1879780"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/frhs.2026.1879780","relation":{},"ISSN":["2813-0146"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2813-0146","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]]},"article-number":"1879780"}}