Expanding depression treatment with StrongMinds

Depression is one of the largest causes of disability in sub-Saharan Africa, and it affects women at roughly twice the rate of men. The treatment gap is enormous: the great majority of people living with depression in the region have no access to care at all, largely because there are very few psychiatrists and psychologists for the population.

The program uses group interpersonal psychotherapy, an evidence-based approach the World Health Organization endorses for low-resource settings. Groups run for eight to ten sessions, in person or by phone, and are led by trained lay counsellors rather than clinicians. Members identify the interpersonal triggers behind their depression and work through them together, which builds a support network that outlasts the sessions.

Training lay facilitators is what makes the model affordable and scalable, and some participants go on to lead groups in their own communities. The organization running it is StrongMinds.

Untreated depression is not only painful, it is economically corrosive: it lowers productivity and income, worsens physical health, and reaches into the next generation, since children of depressed mothers are more likely to miss school and to become depressed themselves. Treating it addresses several of those at once, which is why cost-effectiveness estimates for this program compare well with physical health interventions.

Gifts through Rethink Charity come with an official Canadian donation receipt. See how it works for the steps, or get in touch if you would like to talk through your giving.