Launching a Coalition for Scaling Mental Health

In March 2023, inspiring and visionary leaders including Tom Osborn of Shamiri Institute, Dixon Chibanda of Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, Sean Mayberry of StrongMinds and Jean Bosco Niyonzima of Ubuntu Center for Peace, met in Nairobi, convened and sponsored by Kevin Starr of Mulago. The four pioneers initiated a Coalition for Scaling Mental Health that champions for mental health and well-being for all through task-shifting of evidence-based practices to well trained, managed and compensated lay-providers in the community, integrated with the existing healthcare system. The Mental Health coalition was launched in Oxford on April 12, 2024, at the Skoll World Forum. The audience including mental health support services implementers, researchers, funders and others welcomed it with interest and enthusiasm.

Our gratitude to Kevin Starr of Mulago for his inspiration and support, to Vitol Foundation and Agency Fund for sponsoring the launching event and to all who believe in the cause and ready to support the Coalition for Scaling Mental Health. Please read more about the coalition’s principles and strategies in the white paper here.