Our Impact | StrongMinds
Skip to the content

Our Impact

Our Impact

StrongMinds treats depression at scale in sub‑Saharan Africa through free, community‑based group therapy.

We began by focusing on women and adolescents and now treat people of all genders and ages in low‑resource settings, with a continued emphasis on women and youth. To date, StrongMinds has treated over one million people with depression, with the majority remaining depression‑free six months after therapy and many reporting improvements in work, school attendance, and food security for their families.
Right Flourish

Our innovations are

Driven by a data-centered approach

Our model

Key indicators:

  • Total people reached
  • Direct impact on an individuals’ symptoms
  • Indirect impact on household and family
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Qualitative research and stories

Direct Impact

The Numbers

1.6 Million
People

Treated for
depression to-date.

74%

Of clients, on average, are
depression-free after therapy ends.

Spillover Effects

Indirect Impacts

For every woman we treat for
depression, four members of
her family feel the benefits

5.2 Million

people indirectly benefiting
from household and
community spillover effects

Benefits to Individuals and Their Families

Icon of money
115% increase
in clients who report not missing work or economic activity over the past week. 

Icon parent sending child to school
29% increase
in clients who report their children did not miss school over the past week.

Icon group of women
18% increase
in clients reporting they have someone to turn to for social support.

Icon - food
85% increase
in clients who report feeding their children three meals in the past 24 hours. 

Left Flourish

Rapidly Scaling Our Reach

Innovation and partnerships have driven our rapid growth.

Focused on
Cost-Effectiveness

We use the term “cost-per-person” (CPP) as our primary indicator of cost-efficiency. The CPP is determined by dividing our total clients treated by our total operating costs, revealing how much it costs to treat depression in one individual in Africa. As we scale our reach to hundreds of thousands of people, the cost-per-person for a full cycle of depression treatment steadily decreases.

Empowerment through therapy

Transforming lives and livelihoods

Three people smiling Play

“Before StrongMinds intervened, I didn’t have a direction at all. I did random jobs with no thought of ever being able to have my own business. But, the therapy group gave me a chance to engage with great minds. Because of my experiences in the group, my mind-set totally changed. With the savings I made, I was able to start my own business six months after finishing therapy. It’s funny to know that it doesn’t even take that much capital to start up if you have the right advice.”

TAKE ACTION

If you’d like to help expand this impact, visit our Philanthropy & Partnerships page.
Join Us
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.