The Friendship Bench: How to Help More People Access Mental Health Services

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.

This episode includes mentions of depression and suicide. If you need additional support, you can call 988 to talk to a trained listener. You can also text with a trained helper by texting “SAVE”  to 741741.

Our next season starts June 5. In the meantime, connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker.

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