StrongMinds

StrongMinds' ultimate goal is to end the depression epidemic in Africa. Over the next three years, we will treat 300,000 depression sufferers, bringing our cumulative number of patients to more than 400,000 people.

StrongMinds treats depression using group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G), delivered by lay counselors. This manualized, time-bound talk therapy model emphasizes 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 WHO as a first-line depression intervention in resource-poor settings.

Our group therapy is available in person or by phone. In groups, members find a safe space to open up with peers about their worries and struggles. Over 8-10 sessions, counselors guide structured discussions to help participants identify the underlying triggers of their depression and examine how their current relationships and their depression are linked. Together, they 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.

Members work together to strategize solutions for overcoming their challenges, forming strong social bonds in the process. 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.

PHASES OF THERAPY

The sessions are divided into three phases, each with distinct objectives:

Initial Phase: This phase focuses on building trust and rapport among group members so they feel comfortable opening up with one another.

Middle Phase: This phase ensures that all members are actively engaged in discussion and collective problem-solving. Participants learn to fully understand the symptoms and triggers of depression.

Termination Phase: By this stage, most participants have experienced a substantial reduction in the severity of their depression symptoms. As they prepare for the end of formal sessions, each will make a plan to identify and mitigate triggers in the future, so that 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 layer mental health services into existing livelihood, food security, healthcare, and education programs in order to scale our reach and enhance outcomes for program participants.

StrongMinds is operated by a dedicated team, led by CEO and Founder, Sean Mayberry, Uganda Country Director, Christina Ntulo, and Zambia Country Director, Frank Harle.

Sean Mayberry's experience includes more than a decade of work in Africa and Asia where he designed, planned, and successfully implemented a variety of community-based health and anti-poverty programs for USAID, DFID, The Global Fund, and other donors, all with strong monitoring and evaluation components. He was the Population Services International country director for both the Democratic Republic of Congo and India, during which he was responsible for implementing health programs with an accumulated budget of more than $50 million. He is also the former COO of VisionSpring and CEO of FXB International.

Christina Ntulo is a mental health and development worker with 23 years of professional experience in mental health, human rights, gender, economic empowerment, management, and organizational development. Christine also possesses skills in strategic and program planning, implementation, monitoring, research, evaluation and analysis, evidence-based advocacy, and organizational and national-level policy development and analysis. Prior to joining StrongMinds Uganda, she held consultant and director-level positions for several organizations including Network for Africa, BasicNeeds, and GOAL Uganda.

Frank Harle possesses nearly 15 years of international development experience and is keenly adept at operating country programs focused on improving the well-being of impoverished populations. He has strong experience working with INGO and MOH partners in South Africa, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Before joining the StrongMinds team in 2019 as the Country Director for Zambia, he spent four years as a Country Director in South Africa and three years as Deputy Director in Tanzania for Restless Development. Frank holds a bachelor's in Arts in History from the University of Sheffield.

StrongMinds' Mental Health Advisory Panel also provides expert technical oversight with representatives from diverse backgrounds in psychiatry, psychology, academia, and global mental health. Additionally, StrongMinds receives technical guidance and support from Dr. Lena Verdelli and Dr. Myrna Weissman. Dr. Verdelli is an, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director, Global Mental Health at Columbia University. Dr. Weissman is a Professor of Epidemiology and Psychiatry at Columbia University and is one of the founders of Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy has been proven and validated by numerous randomized control trials including a 2002 study conducted in Uganda through Columbia and John Hopkins Universities.

Lastly, StrongMinds has developed a solid and diverse funding basis, despite fundraising challenges for mental healthcare in Africa. We have the support of a number of foundation partners, individuals, and multilateral grants that sustain our program and operations.

Since beginning fieldwork in 2014, StrongMinds has treated approximately 160,000 women and adolescents suffering from depression. Our current monitoring and evaluation show that 80% are depression-free at the completion of therapy and these results are sustained for six months. From 2022 to 2024, we aim to treat 300,000 depression sufferers in Africa.