Mental Health is a Human Right
Supporting a rights-based approach to mental health care globally.
Everyone has the inherent right to the highest attainable standard of mental health care.
When individuals enjoy good mental health, they are better equipped to handle the daily stresses of life, realize their potential, and contribute positively to their communities.
280 million people
globally are living with depression.
1.3 qualified mental health care
providers per 100,000 people in Africa.
.03% of global development aid for health goes toward mental health services.
What We Are Doing
StrongMinds removes the barriers that prevent people from receiving essential mental health care by providing free depression treatment in low-resource communities.
We also work at the local, national, and international levels to integrate mental health care into government and NGO programs, build peer-therapy networks, and unlock funding and support to increase access globally.
Support mental health as a human right today.
Stories of Impact Beyond the Numbers: Real Lives Transformed Through Therapy in 2024
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…
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World 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…
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World 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…
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Addressing 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…
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How 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…
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Navigating 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…
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Rebuilding 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…
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Restoring 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…
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Responding 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…
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Big 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…
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Prossy’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…
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Pamela’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…
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Harriet’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…
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Fueling 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…
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How 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,…
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Treating 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, *…
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Christina’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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StrongMinds 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…
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Recovering 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…
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Mary’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….
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Deborah’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…
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Profiles 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…
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Joan’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…
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StrongMinds 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…
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Daughter 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…
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Our 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…
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Meet 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…
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StrongMinds 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…
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From 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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Official 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…
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Mental 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…
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Smiling 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…
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Solving 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…
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