The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 322 million people in the world have depression. Depression is about 1.5 times as common among women as among men. Because mental health services are underfunded, about 85% of people living in poor countries get no help for their mental health problems.
StrongMinds provides free group talk therapy for depression in Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi, often through government health services and schools. In 2025 it treated about 745,000 people, and more than 2 million in total. According to StrongMinds, 74% of participants are free of depression when therapy ends. When a mother recovers from depression, her children benefit too: their nutrition improves.
People who go through StrongMinds' group therapy often stay in touch with their group after the treatment ends. Many say that thanks to the therapy they now have someone to turn to for social and emotional support. They are also better able to recognise the signs of depression in themselves and others, and to use the emotional tools learned in therapy to prevent future episodes of depression.
The large positive impact and cost-effectiveness of StrongMinds has been measured and reported by the Happier Lives Institute, which researches wellbeing. StrongMinds also carries out its own impact evaluations.
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