Born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Samke Ngcobo dreamed of becoming a teacher — until her first experience with mental illness at 14 redirected her path. Living with Bipolar Disorder Type 1, she has turned her personal challenges into a source of strength, combining lived experience with professional expertise as a medical doctor in mental health. In 2011, Ngcobo completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and she has since been a leading figure in the field of mental health. In 2020, she founded Vocal Mentality, a platform dedicated to mental health advocacy and psycho-education. Through Vocal Mentality, she provides wellness advisory, consultations, educational content, and speaking engagements, helping individuals and organisations navigate mental wellbeing while breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness. Ngcobo is also the author of Reflections of a Convoluted Mind: A Journey with My Mental Illness (2020), which uses storytelling to inspire awareness, hope, and resilience. Her achievements include being a Top 5 finalist in the 2022 Rising Star Awards in Entrepreneurship, a Forty Under 40 South Africa nominee in 2025 in Wellness, and a finalist for Author of the Year at the 2025 African Health Excellence Awards. Guided by faith and determination, Ngcobo believes every challenge carries a purpose: “My resilience and courage are the light that emerged from my darkest moments.” Her advice to others: “Never give up.”
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB), University of KwaZulu-Natal
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Being a published author of Reflections of a Convoluted Mind: A Journey with My Mental Illness in 2020 is a significant highlight and achievement for me.
- Notably, Vocal Mentality was recognised as a Top 5 Finalist by the 2022 Rising Star Awards in the Entrepreneurship category.
- Recognised as a Forty Under 40 South Africa 2025 nominee in the Wellness category for Vocal Mentality.
- African Health Excellence Awards 2025 finalist: Author of the Year.
