News from StrongMinds
A new scientific brief from the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called this “a wake-up call to all countries to pay more attention to mental health and do a…
Maplewood, NJ – December 9, 2021- Mental health NGO StrongMinds has appointed Peter Okwi as its new Chief Operating Officer and Christina Ntulo as Country Director of StrongMinds Uganda. These appointments are part of a larger move to shift the organization’s global leadership to Uganda and Zambia, with the US office providing fundraising, marketing, and…
Belgian designer Clio Goldbrenner has partnered with StrongMinds and EPIC to launch a new bag collection in support of mental health for women in sub-Saharan Africa. The capsule collection includes two Clio Mini pouches, embossed with the words “Strong” and “Positive.” All proceeds will go to StrongMinds to improve access to mental health services for low-income women…
With deep sorrow, the StrongMinds team mourns the loss of Hope Busingye, who passed away on September 18th, 2021. Hope was one of the first people hired at StrongMinds to lead counseling groups, drawing upon her years of experience in medical nursing and community healthcare. She helped establish our deep roots in Uganda and eventually…
Christina lives in a refugee settlement in northeastern Uganda. At 28-years old, she has already endured a lifetime of instability. When her family fled Sudan, Christina’s father stayed behind. Her mother still struggles daily to make ends meet. Now, as an adult, Christina is living with HIV, while raising her children without her husband’s support.…
StrongMinds is pleased to launch a new virtual mental health resource: Amani is a WhatsApp chatbot that aims to serve tens of thousands of individuals in Uganda and Zambia struggling with mental health issues under COVID-19. Amani helps users: Explore difficult feelings and learn simple coping strategies. Learn facts about depression, and its causes and…
StrongMInds mourns the loss of a dear friend and supporter in Zambia, John Mayeya, who passed away this weekend from COVID-19. John was the Director of Mental Health within the Zambian Ministry of Health. He was a keen advocate for mental health and a tireless supporter of the work of StrongMinds. It was John who,…
NEW REPORT SHOWS HOUSEHOLD DISTRESS IS ON THE RISE IN UGANDA AND ZAMBIA DUE TO PANDEMIC KAMPALA, UGANDA – The COVID-19 pandemic is triggering an increase in persistent stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in low-income households in Uganda and Zambia. This comes from a ground-breaking June 2020 survey of 12,000 women in low-income communities in…
StrongMInds welcomes Peter Okwi as our new Uganda Country Director. In this role, Peter will lead all operations in country, supporting a team of staff working across multiple districts to grow, innovate, and collaborate. He will play a pivotal role in shaping StrongMinds’ growth and scale in Uganda and elsewhere in the region. Peter comes to Strong…
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to disrupt life around the world, the toll on our mental health is enormous. At a time when there are calls for social distancing and isolation, StrongMinds’ number one priority continues to be ensuring the women and adolescents we serve in Uganda and Zambia have adequate support. We remain constant…