University of Kwazulu Natal

Nombulelo Thembekile Crocco is a Registered Clinical Psychologist who holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Psychology from the University of Zimbabwe (2008) and a Master of Science degree in Community Psychology from Midlands State University (2016). She is currently doing a doctoral fellowship under the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI). .

 Her main research interests focus around understanding and improving the mental health of LGBTI community members.  From 2009 to date, she has been in the clinical psychology department at Ingutsheni Central Hospital, the largest psychiatric institution in Zimbabwe. She has handled numerous cases of suicide, depression, anxiety and other mental disorders. She also lectures part time on psychotherapies and principles of counselling, psychological aspects of medical conditions, and psychological aspects of human development at the medical school at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Nombulelo’s doctoral research is focusing on developing a mental health intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. This kind of research will inform relevant therapeutic strategies for the MSM Community. MSM are a hidden marginalized population in Zimbabwe as the country's legislature renders illegal sexual acts between men. Not surprisingly, this population experiences a significant amount of minority stress making them vulnerable to mental ill-health. To date, there has been no research into the development of an intervention to support their mental health in Zimbabwe. Therefore, in her doctoral fellowship, Nombulelo will adapt and pilot an intervention that is suitable for MSM in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Supervisors:

Prof Sinegugu Duma, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Dr Lisa Langhaug, AMARI, University of Zimbabwe

Prof Richard Harding, King’s College London