As a Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree: MASTER'S DEGREE IN NURSING (MENTAL HEALTH) By

This dissertation is dedicated to my father who has been a great inspiration in my life. II Acknowledgements This work has been made possible with the support and inputs of many people whom I sincerely acknowledge and honour. • My supervisor Dr Sarah N. Mahlungulu. Thank you for your guidance, encouragement, continuous support and contribution to this study, also for all the time you spent supervising me. • Dr Moolman (statistician, Howard college) and Richard Devey (Developmental studies) for helping me with data analysis and statistics. • My parents and all my siblings for believing in me and for their emotional support throughout this period. • My housemates Eunice, Rehana and Sarafina, for being there when I needed them