Depression Treatment
Scaling evidence-based mental health care globally.
Our model at-a-glance
StrongMinds treats depression using group interpersonal therapy.
This manualized, time-bound talk therapy model emphasizes interpersonal relationships as the root of – and source of recovery for – depression.
IPT-G is well-studied in low- and middle-income countries and is recommended by the World Health Organization as a first-line depression intervention in low-resource settings.
How IPT-G Works
In StrongMinds therapy groups, members find a safe space to open up with peers about their worries and struggles. Over 6 sessions, lay counselors guide structured discussions to help participants identify their underlying triggers of depression and examine how their interpersonal relationships and depression symptoms are linked. Group members work together to strategize solutions to their problems, learn coping mechanisms, practice interpersonal skills, and identify support structures that they can continue to lean on after therapy has ended. Since depression is episodic and recurrent throughout most people’s lives, these newly acquired skills have both immediate and long-term preventive impacts for the individual.
A closer look at results from this evidence-based approach.
Community-Based, Culturally Adapted
IPT-G Focuses on Four Key
Triggers of Depression
Grief over loss
(sustained)
Life changes
(job loss, marriage, divorce, diagnoses, becoming a parent, etc.)
Unresolved conflict
(with family members, friends, or work colleagues)
Social isolation
(physical distancing, relocation, loss of social network)
When a woman recovers from depression
She changes the world around her
Where We Work
Screening for Depression
StrongMinds uses the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) tool to screen for depression. This 9-question, internationally validated tool is administered before, during, and after each therapy cycle. The PHQ-9 identifies the presence and severity of depression symptoms, and helps group leaders determine how well a client’s symptoms are responding to therapy, and ultimately to help us measure our impact.
Phases of Therapy
Initial
Participants focus on building trust and rapport among group members so that they feel comfortable opening up with one another.
Middle
Participants engage in discussion and collective problem-solving. They learn to understand the symptoms and triggers of depression.
Termination
As participants end formal sessions, they will plan to identify and mitigate triggers so they can prevent recurring depressive episodes.
Sustainability and Scaling
We achieve sustainability by identifying and training former clients and local health workers to facilitate StrongMinds therapy groups in their communities, spreading the seeds of good mental health widely. We also work with governments and NGOs to integrate mental health services into livelihood, food security, healthcare, and education programs in order to scale our reach and enhance outcomes for program participants.
From Patient to Peer Facilitator: Deborah
MEET DEBORAH, a 34-year-old widow and mother living with HIV. She lost her husband 6 years ago and is caring for their children. Life had…
READ MORESmiling Once Again: Sophia
MEET SOPHIA, a 45-year-old single mother of six children in Kampala, Uganda. Years of prostitution triggered a deep and severe depression for Sophia. Her life…
READ MORESolving the Depression Epidemic in Africa | Sean Mayberry | TEDxCulverCity
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Empowering women is essential to reducing poverty and building better economies. When women are mentally healthy, they can contribute to society, achieve financial independence, and…
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Climate-related environmental disasters and infectious disease outbreaks are increasingly affecting mental health in Africa. Safety concerns and loss of life, property, or livelihoods can trigger…
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When 16-year-old Gabriele first entered Uganda as a South Sudanese refugee, he never imagined he’d soon be traveling to Kampala to lobby Parliament and Ministry…
READ MOREProssy’s Story of Depression Recovery in Northern Uganda
Prossy is a 30-year-old South Sudanese woman who fled to Uganda with her four children to escape the civil war at home. Her husband had…
READ MOREPamela’s Story: Treating Depression in Refugee Settings
33-year-old Pamela resides in a small village within Lamwo District, Northern Uganda. As a busy mom attempting to manage long-standing medical issues, her days are…
READ MOREHarriet’s Story: From Client to Mental Health Facilitator
Before Harriet joined StrongMinds’ therapy group in 2017, her life was filled with pain and difficulty. As a single mother of twins, relying on her…
READ MOREFueling our work through technology
Building on our successes scaling through teletherapy during the pandemic, StrongMinds has now integrated phone-based technology throughout our operations, enhancing our ability to identify and…
READ MOREHow Elizabeth transformed her grief into a mission to help others
Elizabeth (47) lives in Lusaka and is among our first cohort of Peer Facilitators in Zambia. When she joined a StrongMinds therapy group in 2019,…
READ MOREAddressing depression stigma in Uganda
Psychology Today talks to Tina Ntulo about the impact of depression stigma on women in Uganda, and what StrongMinds is doing to combat misinformation and…
READ MORETreating Depression in Adolescents in Zambia during COVID-19
When life doesn’t go as planned, adjusting to new circumstances can be difficult. In some cases, it can lead to anxiety and depression. Clara, *…
READ MOREChristina’s Story of Depression Recovery in a Refugee Settlement
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,…
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In some villages in Zambia, it is considered tradition to inherit a marriage after the death of a sibling or cousin, regardless of your age….
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Meet Deborah, a 34-year old widow and mother living with HIV. She lost her husband six years ago and is caring for his many orphaned…
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Meet Doreen & Jaffar Doreen carries herself confidently, her smile as striking as the bright green dress she wears for her school uniform. But there…
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Joan, 31, is the mother of three girls and the “house mother” for eight boys, at a boarding school for kids abandoned on the streets…
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StrongMinds: Treating Depression at Scale in Africa [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=IBxWCPEoJpY” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_column_text] The 8-minute video goes into depth about StrongMinds’ work treating women with depression in Uganda…
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READ MOREStrongMinds Therapy Group: “Together We Can”
Every Monday afternoon for the past six weeks, a group of 12 women have met on a neighbor’s porch. The StrongMinds Therapy Group, which selected…
READ MOREFrom Group Member to Peer Facilitator: Nusura
Nusura is a 41 year-old mother of five children, she lives in Naguru Village, in Uganda’s Kampala district. For Nusura, life has not been easy….
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Specioza is a 28 years old woman. Her life in Uganda has not been easy. She was born with a heart valve condition, which has…
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READ MOREA New Talent Discovered: Wanyama
MEET WANYAMA, a 41-year-old widow, who lost her husband 4 years ago, and has lost 3 of her children to AIDS. Her depression score at…
READ MOREFrom Patient to Peer Facilitator: Deborah
MEET DEBORAH, a 34-year-old widow and mother living with HIV. She lost her husband 6 years ago and is caring for their children. Life had…
READ MORESmiling Once Again: Sophia
MEET SOPHIA, a 45-year-old single mother of six children in Kampala, Uganda. Years of prostitution triggered a deep and severe depression for Sophia. Her life…
READ MORESolving the Depression Epidemic in Africa | Sean Mayberry | TEDxCulverCity
Global healthcare advocate and activist, Sean Mayberry addresses a silent epidemic affecting hundreds of millions Africans, Depression. In a society that attaches stigma to mental…
READ MOREStories of Impact: Real Lives Transformed Through Therapy
Behind every statistic lies a human story—a life transformed and a spark of hope reignited. At StrongMinds, we’re incredibly proud of our numbers: we’re on…
READ MOREWorld Suicide Prevention Day: Confronting Depression and Suicide in Africa
Suicide is a major public health concern that touches individuals and families around the world. It is estimated that more than 700,000 people die from…
READ MOREWorld Refugee Day
World Refugee Day is an opportunity to shed light on the mental health challenges faced by millions of displaced individuals worldwide. Refugees often endure unimaginable…
READ MOREAddressing Male Depression to Transform Families and Communities
Depression affects millions of people worldwide, yet its impact on men remains significantly underreported and undertreated, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the internalization of masculine…
READ MOREHow Climate Impacts Mental Health in Africa
As we enter Earth Month and rally to protect our planet, we need to recognize the profound impact climate change effects can have on mental…
READ MORENavigating Mental Health Challenges Amid a Cholera Outbreak in Zambia
Since October 2023, Zambia has been grappling with a major cholera outbreak that has taken the lives of more than 500 people and infected more…
READ MORERebuilding Hope: Overcoming Depression After Devastating Floods
In July 2022, Eastern Uganda’s Mbale District was hit by a catastrophic flood, leaving a trail of ruin and destruction. Susan was just one of…
READ MORERestoring Mental Health, Improving Livelihoods
Empowering women is essential to reducing poverty and building better economies. When women are mentally healthy, they can contribute to society, achieve financial independence, and…
READ MOREResponding to Climate Disasters and Disease Outbreaks
Climate-related environmental disasters and infectious disease outbreaks are increasingly affecting mental health in Africa. Safety concerns and loss of life, property, or livelihoods can trigger…
READ MOREBig Win for Mental Health in Uganda’s Schools
When 16-year-old Gabriele first entered Uganda as a South Sudanese refugee, he never imagined he’d soon be traveling to Kampala to lobby Parliament and Ministry…
READ MOREProssy’s Story of Depression Recovery in Northern Uganda
Prossy is a 30-year-old South Sudanese woman who fled to Uganda with her four children to escape the civil war at home. Her husband had…
READ MOREPamela’s Story: Treating Depression in Refugee Settings
33-year-old Pamela resides in a small village within Lamwo District, Northern Uganda. As a busy mom attempting to manage long-standing medical issues, her days are…
READ MOREHarriet’s Story: From Client to Mental Health Facilitator
Before Harriet joined StrongMinds’ therapy group in 2017, her life was filled with pain and difficulty. As a single mother of twins, relying on her…
READ MOREFueling our work through technology
Building on our successes scaling through teletherapy during the pandemic, StrongMinds has now integrated phone-based technology throughout our operations, enhancing our ability to identify and…
READ MOREHow Elizabeth transformed her grief into a mission to help others
Elizabeth (47) lives in Lusaka and is among our first cohort of Peer Facilitators in Zambia. When she joined a StrongMinds therapy group in 2019,…
READ MOREAddressing depression stigma in Uganda
Psychology Today talks to Tina Ntulo about the impact of depression stigma on women in Uganda, and what StrongMinds is doing to combat misinformation and…
READ MORETreating Depression in Adolescents in Zambia during COVID-19
When life doesn’t go as planned, adjusting to new circumstances can be difficult. In some cases, it can lead to anxiety and depression. Clara, *…
READ MOREChristina’s Story of Depression Recovery in a Refugee Settlement
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,…
READ MOREStrongMinds mourns the passing of John Mayeya
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…
READ MORERecovering From a Childhood Filled with Grief and Trauma
A period of grief is normal after the loss of a loved one. But when the grief fails to eventually subside or is compounded by…
READ MOREMary’s Recovery from her “Downward Spiral into Darkness”
In some villages in Zambia, it is considered tradition to inherit a marriage after the death of a sibling or cousin, regardless of your age….
READ MOREDeborah’s Story
Meet Deborah, a 34-year old widow and mother living with HIV. She lost her husband six years ago and is caring for his many orphaned…
READ MOREProfiles in Adolescent Depression Recovery
Meet Doreen & Jaffar Doreen carries herself confidently, her smile as striking as the bright green dress she wears for her school uniform. But there…
READ MOREJoan’s Story
Joan, 31, is the mother of three girls and the “house mother” for eight boys, at a boarding school for kids abandoned on the streets…
READ MOREStrongMinds Officially Expands into Zambia
StrongMinds is pleased to announce we have expanded our mental health services to Zambia. Working closely with Zambia’s Ministry of Health and other partners, we…
READ MOREDaughter Shares Story of Mother’s Recovery from Depression
HARVESTING HAPPINESS Afiya, 16, shares her story of her mother, Adellah’s recovery from the ‘Black Night’ of depression I remember that bright morning, waking up…
READ MOREOur New Mini-Documentary
StrongMinds: Treating Depression at Scale in Africa [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=IBxWCPEoJpY” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_column_text] The 8-minute video goes into depth about StrongMinds’ work treating women with depression in Uganda…
READ MOREMeet Rashidah: One of the 25,000 Women Treated
[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/7yqYjzQ7n8g” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Watch as Rashidah shares her story about going from feeling hopeless and suicidal to having the confidence to start her own small…
READ MOREStrongMinds Therapy Group: “Together We Can”
Every Monday afternoon for the past six weeks, a group of 12 women have met on a neighbor’s porch. The StrongMinds Therapy Group, which selected…
READ MOREFrom Group Member to Peer Facilitator: Nusura
Nusura is a 41 year-old mother of five children, she lives in Naguru Village, in Uganda’s Kampala district. For Nusura, life has not been easy….
READ MOREOfficial Launch of StrongMinds Uganda in Iganga
On March 23, 2017, the StrongMinds Uganda (SMU) team officially launched its efforts in Iganga District, which is in the Eastern Region of the…
READ MOREMaking a Connection: Specioza
Specioza is a 28 years old woman. Her life in Uganda has not been easy. She was born with a heart valve condition, which has…
READ MOREMental Health Awareness Day in Uganda
On Friday, November 25, the StrongMinds Uganda team joined the Ministry of Health to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Day in Kampala. The…
READ MOREA New Talent Discovered: Wanyama
MEET WANYAMA, a 41-year-old widow, who lost her husband 4 years ago, and has lost 3 of her children to AIDS. Her depression score at…
READ MOREFrom Patient to Peer Facilitator: Deborah
MEET DEBORAH, a 34-year-old widow and mother living with HIV. She lost her husband 6 years ago and is caring for their children. Life had…
READ MORESmiling Once Again: Sophia
MEET SOPHIA, a 45-year-old single mother of six children in Kampala, Uganda. Years of prostitution triggered a deep and severe depression for Sophia. Her life…
READ MORESolving the Depression Epidemic in Africa | Sean Mayberry | TEDxCulverCity
Global healthcare advocate and activist, Sean Mayberry addresses a silent epidemic affecting hundreds of millions Africans, Depression. In a society that attaches stigma to mental…
READ MORE