University of Cape Town

Marshall Marufu is an MPhil fellow from Zimbabwe currently studying towards a Master of Philosophy in Public Mental Health with the University of Cape Town. He is being funded by the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI). Marshall holds a Bachelor of Science Sociology Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Management from Project Management Zimbabwe.

After completing his honours degree, in 2010 he joined The Mental Health Pillar of the Nyarai Makone Foundation on a mental health promotion and prevention programme that aimed at raising awareness of mental health, reducing stigma and promoting mental health detection and early intervention among adolescents. Marshall has also been involved in a study conducted at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences which investigated the feasibility and acceptability of treating depression in people living with HIV to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

His research interests are in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) and his MPhil thesis involves examining the prevalence and factors associated with depression and anxiety among adolescent offenders within the juvenile justice system in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North Provinces, Zimbabwe. Marshall intends to research and publish papers at the same time lobbying for the introduction of mental health screening and services for adolescents entering the juvenile justice system.

Supervisors:

Prof Katherine Sorsdahl, University of Cape Town

Dr Petal Petersen Williams, South African Medical Research Council, University of Cape Town

Donnela Besada, South African Medical Research Council, University of Cape Town

Dr Walter Mangezi, University of Zimbabwe