Consultancy in adolescent & youth mental health
A 24-month, school-based programme bringing depression screening, structured group therapy, teacher-led facilitation, and psychosocial activities to adolescents across Uganda — from Buikwe’s villages to the classroom and back to the community circle.
Background & problem
A significant share of Ugandan adolescents live with depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance-use risk that quietly erodes their learning, attendance, and wellbeing. UNICEF’s Uganda Situation Analysis (2021–2023) tracks worsening psychosocial distress among school-aged children, and finds mental health services for adolescents remain scarce — especially inside schools.
The Ministry of Education and Sports’ Education Sector Annual Performance Report (2022/2023) links rising absenteeism, dropout, and behavioural challenges to unaddressed psychosocial issues. Research from Makerere University’s School of Public Health (2021–2022) finds that while many adolescents show symptoms consistent with depression and anxiety, very few ever receive formal support — schools simply lack trained personnel and structured services.
Most mental health conditions take root before age 14 (WHO, 2022). Without structured screening, prevention, and treatment in schools — and with stigma and weak referral systems compounding the gap — too many adolescents struggle silently. Schools remain the single most strategic platform to change that.
“Half of all mental health disorders begin before age 14 — making schools the most effective platform for early identification, prevention, and intervention.” WHO, 2022–2023
Why this works
Outcomes drawn from Uganda school-based mental health pilots and StrongMinds Uganda programme data, 2020–2023.
Who we reach
Continuity of mental health support across every stage of a young person’s education — from the primary school circle to the university corridor.
Model of service delivery
Implemented with the Ministry of Education and Sports, the School-Based and Youth Mental Health Service Delivery Model extends support beyond secondary schools into tertiary institutions, so a student is never handed off without a next step.
Primary schools — storytelling and emotional learning.
Secondary schools — group therapy, drama, sports.
Colleges & universities — peer support, counselling linkages, stress management — with college youth trained as peer mental health champions who run awareness campaigns, facilitate peer groups, and reduce stigma from within.
Goal & objectives
By implementing a scalable, school-based system for early identification, structured therapy, and psychosocial support — in schools and selected tertiary institutions.
What we screen for
Key activities
From first stakeholder meeting to endline evaluation — the full delivery sequence.
Theory of change
Delivered together
Budget summary
All figures in Uganda Shillings (UGX). Full line-item detail is available on request.
From the field
Community gatherings from recent outreach — the same circle-based, task-shifted approach this programme scales into schools.
Call to action
We invite prospective funding partners to join us in delivering this programme. Your support funds mental health screening, structured group therapy, teacher training, and psychosocial development for adolescents and youth across Ugandan schools and tertiary institutions — generating gains in attendance, academic performance, and wellbeing that outlast the life of the grant.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss this proposal further and to provide any additional information to support your funding decision.