The Friendship Bench is a diagnostic screening tool. Grandmothers are trained in a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called problem solving therapy. Research shows that this focus on resolving specific problems can give people a greater sense of agency over their lives.
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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