StrongMinds

What problem is StrongMinds working on?

The World Health Organization estimates that 280 million people globally are living with depressive disorders. For African women — who are affected at approximately 1.5 times the rate of men — depression is a leading cause of disability. Yet, due to the lack of investment in mental health services, approximately 85% of people in low-income countries receive no treatment.

What does StrongMinds do?

StrongMinds has shared the following about their work:

StrongMinds is a global nonprofit organization driven by the fundamental belief that mental health is a human right and the foundation of thriving families and communities. At StrongMinds, we deploy groundbreaking innovations to bring free, evidence-based, culturally relevant mental health care to the world’s most under-resourced populations. StrongMinds is committed to turning the tide against mental health disparities, ensuring that every individual on the planet has the support they need to lead healthy, satisfying, productive lives.

We scale access to depression treatment through highly effective government partnerships, public education, and peer-to-peer therapy—allowing us to treat hundreds of thousands of people every year in sub-Saharan Africa.

Our results are a testament to the transformative power of mental health care. Our six-week group talk therapy model helps clients to build their resilience and stability. Clients who complete StrongMinds therapy achieve clinically significant reductions in depression symptoms, with 75% becoming depression-free by the end of treatment.

Women are affected by depression at almost twice the rate of men, and treating women’s depression benefits everyone. When a woman recovers from depression, not only is she able to thrive, but her family and community can also flourish. Women who recover from depression then become more economically active, and the children in their care eat more regular meals and attend school more consistently. For each woman who restores her mental health, the positive effects ripple outward to support an entire household.

Two weeks post therapy, there is a 15 percentage point increase in women who report that their children haven’t missed school in the past week. Additionally, there is a 28 percentage point increase in clients whose families have had three meals in the past 24 hours, and a 34 percentage point increase in clients who report not missing work or other critical activities in the past week. Perhaps most importantly, our clients feel more connected than ever, with a 48 percentage point increase in those who say they have someone to turn to for support.

A quarter of all adolescents experience depression in sub-Saharan Africa, impeding positive educational outcomes. To address this, StrongMinds reaches adolescents through schools and community outreach. After therapy, adolescents report a brighter outlook on life and attend an average of 4.6 more school days each term. We have also expanded our work to treat other traditionally underserved and marginalized populations like incarcerated individuals and refugees, helping to alleviate suffering and foster resilience in communities often overlooked in mental health care.

Those who complete StrongMinds therapy groups often remain in touch after the conclusion of treatment. They are also better able to recognise the signs of depression in themselves and others and deploy the emotional tools StrongMinds taught them to prevent future depressive episodes. With a strengthened sense of personal agency and a resilient mindset, clients are empowered to navigate life’s challenges with confidence, knowing they have the skills to sustain their mental well-being over the long term.

What information does Giving What We Can have about the cost-effectiveness of StrongMinds?^1.

We previously included StrongMinds as one of our recommended charities based on Founders Pledge’s evaluation highlighting its cost-effectiveness as part of its report on mental health. Happier Lives Institute has also reported on StrongMinds’ cost-effectiveness in StrongMinds: cost-effectiveness analysis and Happiness for the whole family. In addition, StrongMinds’ own research shows the results of its programmes.

We’ve since updated our recommendations to reflect only organisations recommended by evaluators we’ve looked into as part of our evaluator investigations and chosen to rely on; as such, we don't currently include StrongMinds as one of our recommended programs but you can still donate to it via our donation platform.