Thembi Nkomo | mental health and psychiatry | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Thembi Nkomo | mental health and psychiatry | Best Researcher Award

Mrs at University of the Free State,Ā  South Africa

Dr. Thembi Nkomo is a dedicated Occupational Therapy lecturer at the University of the Free State, South Africa. With a Master’s in Public Health and a PGDip in Vocational Rehabilitation, she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Health at the University of Limpopo. Her research focuses on minimizing mental illness relapse among public school teachers. Dr. Nkomo has published in esteemed journals and has extensive clinical experience, having managed the Occupational Therapy psychiatry department at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital. She actively engages in community outreach, enhancing mental health awareness and supporting vocational rehabilitation initiatives.

Publication profile

 

šŸŽ“ Educational Qualifications

2021: PGDip in Vocational Rehabilitation, University of Pretoria. 2019: Masterā€™s in Public Health, University of Limpopo. 2014: B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy, University of the Western Cape

šŸ« Teaching Portfolio

Position: Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Department, University of the Free State (2023 – Present)

  • Courses Taught:
    • First Year: Community-based engagement, Motivation
    • Second Year: Community-based practice, Social participation & communication
    • Third Year: Performance patterns, Ethics
    • Fourth Year: Various mental health disorders and forensic psychiatry

šŸ¤ Community Engagements

Supervises community-based engagements for first-year students. Conducts handwriting assessments for students requiring additional time during tests and exams.

šŸ‘©ā€āš•ļø Clinical Experience

Position: Occupational Therapist, Mankweng Tertiary and Academic Hospital (2015 – 2022)

  • Managed the Occupational Therapy psychiatry department, conducted functional capacity evaluations, and supervised outreach programs.

šŸ“ Extra Contributions

  • Facilitated a mental health awareness event in 2022, securing sponsorships and engaging stakeholders.
  • Initiated an outpatient group for vocational rehabilitation of patients with mental illness and started a vegetable garden in the ward.

Publication

1. Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions of Spirituality in Training
  • Authors: TG Mthembu, F Ahmed, T Nkuna, K Yaca
  • Journal: Journal of Religion and Health
  • Volume: 5
  • Pages: 2178-2197
  • Year: 2014
2. Exploring Performance Patterns of Family Members Caring for a Loved One with Mental Illness in Rural and Remote Capricorn District of South Africa: A Secondary Analysis
  • Authors: T Nkomo, K Mokoko, Percy
  • Journal: Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
  • Pages: 1-23
  • Year: 2024
3. The Realities of Caring for a Person with a Mental Disorder in Rural and Remote Capricorn District of South Africa: A Qualitative Study
  • Authors: T Nkomo, P Kekana, K Mokoko
  • Journal: Community Mental Health
  • Year: 2024