The psychiatry wards at Jubilee District Hospital, in Hamaanskraal, came alive with music, colour, and laughter as fourth-year Occupational Therapy (OT) students from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) hosted a vibrant Heritage Month celebration. The event blended cultural pride with therapeutic purpose, reminding everyone present of the profound role occupational therapy plays in supporting mental health.
OT is more than treatment; it is about helping people reclaim meaning in their daily lives despite illness or limitation. At Jubilee Hospital, OT students work alongside mental health care users to build confidence, develop skills, and promote independence. This Heritage Month initiative extended those principles beyond the therapy room. Patients engaged in traditional crafts, songs, and performances, celebrating identity and culture in an inclusive, healing environment.
“Activities like these are essential for our patients,” explains Mmabatho Mosoma, Head of the OT Department at Jubilee Hospital. “They create belonging, reconnect patients to their roots, and offer joy with therapeutic value. Celebrations are not just fun—they are treatment in action.”
The wards were transformed into spaces of creativity and connection. Patients collaborated with students to craft cultural items, share stories, and perform traditional songs. Far from mere entertainment, these activities reduced anxiety, encouraged social interaction, and boosted self-esteem—elements central to psychiatric rehabilitation.
For the students, the event was more than a practical exercise. It was a farewell gift to the patients after seven weeks of training. “This celebration was especially meaningful,” reflects Tshireletso Tshimpa, a fourth-year OT student. “It was our final day, and we wanted to leave something lasting. Engaging in cultural activities allowed us to apply our learning in real life while giving patients an uplifting experience.”
The initiative showcased the heart of occupational therapy—empowerment, inclusion, and patient-centred care. By working directly with mental health care users, students sharpened professional skills in empathy, communication, and therapeutic intervention. Patients, in turn, gained opportunities to express themselves, explore identity, and find dignity through creativity.
Mashudu Madavha, Therapeutics Manager at Jubilee Hospital, praised the event’s impact. “South Africa’s cultural diversity is one of its greatest strengths. When patients feel connected to it, they feel valued. Cultural engagement reduces stress and restores a sense of normalcy, even in psychiatric wards. This initiative shows how therapy and community can merge to promote wellness.”
The celebration also highlighted how occupational therapy extends beyond conventional health care. It integrates the social, emotional, and cultural dimensions of healing, helping patients not only cope but thrive. For SMU, this approach is central to its curriculum, which emphasises real-world engagement and community-centred learning. Students are expected to immerse themselves in the lived realities of the people they serve, using knowledge to meet health needs while advancing social inclusion.
The day closed with shared songs, handcrafted keepsakes, and heartfelt laughter between patients and students. For the patients, it was a rare moment of celebration and belonging. For the students, it was a lesson in the transformative power of compassion and culture.
Through initiatives like this, SMU’s OT students are proving that healing is not only clinical—it is human. By weaving together culture, creativity, and care, they are shaping a future where patients feel seen, valued, and empowered.
By Dimakatso Modise
