The grandmothers were not excited initially about the prospect of working with you. You learned to adopt the language of the locals, right? And to make sure that you were speaking in their terms. Was that effective in getting them onto your side and motivating those 14 initial grandmothers to want to partner with you? I remember distinctly she said, if you really want to make a difference in this community, you have to put down your book. She knows the community inside out.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations with scientists about how to live healthier, happier lives.
Psychiatrist Dr. Dixon Chibanda has been on a mission for years to help people gain access to mental healthcare in his community. In Zimbabwe, there is only one psychiatrist for every 1.5 million people. To bridge the gap and provide folks with the help they so desperately need, Dixon turned to a rather unorthodox group for help: grandmothers.
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