Authors: Colby Itkowitz
In Zimbabwe Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatrist, created a space called “Friendship Benches” that sets aside medical and technical elements of mental healthcare and engages the community through “grandmothers” or local lay health workers. The grandmothers are trained in a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, but engage their patients in local language which helps reduce stigma associated with mental health in the community. This program was created to address the overwhelming lack of mental healthcare workers in the country. Thus far, the program has reached over 30,000 Zimbabweans. Studies of the program reveal there is a significant decrease of suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms in communities with Friendship Benches. The published report on the impact of problem-solving therapy and Friendship Benches can be found in this article.
Link: Facing a suicide crisis in his country, this African psychiatrist enlisted grandmothers to step in
Resource Topic: CHWs and Mental Health, Community Health Workers/Volunteers
Resource Type: Best practices
Year: 2017
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Country: Zimbabwe
Publisher May Restrict Access: No
