In every leader's journey, there is a moment, or a series of moments, that stand out — a miserable failure, a grand success, a total surprise. The magic in that experience is rarely just the moment itself, but most often the way in which each leader responded to it. It is that response that shapes …
In Africa, epidemics are associated with outbreaks like cholera and measles or HIV and tuberculosis. Mental health would possibly be the last item on anyone’s list of big health challenges. But mental disorders, like depression, are a leading cause of mental and physical disability in sub-Saharan Africa. There are other reasons that depression shouldn’t be ignored. The main one …
Sekesai Hwiza, an 82-year-old Zimbabwean grandmother, spends most mornings sitting on a park bench talking to people who are emotionally broken by the stresses of life. She has met with more than 2,000 people in her community over the last three years, most of them young people who are depressed and suicidal. Each person who …
Zimbabwe's public health system, like other sectors, has been hit by a financial crisis. With a population of around 16 million, doctors say there are only 12 public health psychiatrists in the whole country. Now, a group of grandmothers are using what they call "friendship benches" to help thousands of people suffering from mental health …