This International Youth Day, we celebrate the incredible role young people play in transforming their communities, and nowhere is this more evident than in the growing movement to destigmatize mental health. This year’s theme, “Local Youth Actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Beyond,” shines a spotlight on how young people are translating global goals into action at the local level. One of the most powerful examples of this are the adolescents who are stepping up to address one of the 17 SDGs: Good Health and Well-Being, by breaking the silence around depression and mental health.

Africa is urbanizing at an unprecedented pace, with its population growing rapidly. By 2050, 90% of the world’s urban population growth will be concentrated in Africa and Asia. While urbanization can bring economic growth and resource efficacy, it also presents significant challenges that can heighten stress and anxiety, ultimately triggering or worsening depression symptoms.

Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to recognize a critical but often overlooked issue: the mental well-being of men. Globally, men die from suicide at more than twice the rate of women. Men face unique pressures that can take a toll on their mental health, but in many communities across Africa, depression remains deeply misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. About a quarter of the people who receive StrongMinds depression treatment are men and adolescent boys. They have endured trauma, loss, economic hardship, or displacement, yet social norms often discourage them from speaking openly about emotional struggles. Instead, symptoms of depression may show up in silence, withdrawal, anger, or even substance use. Without intervention, these symptoms can escalate, affecting families, livelihoods, and communities.

Each year, June 20 marks World Refugee Day, a day when people around the world come together to honor those who have been forced to flee their homes. Among the many challenges refugees face, mental health, particularly depression, stands out as a significant concern. With 32% of displaced individuals experiencing depression, the emotional toll compounds the already overwhelming obstacles they must overcome in their journey to rebuild their lives.

StrongMinds contributed a video to this article about the impacts of USAID funding cuts. Myself, alongside two of my colleagues, coached Lucy on what she should say in response, helped her figure out her wording, and then I took her best run through, edited it down, added branding and we submitted it.

Every mother deserves a healthy start, but for millions of women around the world, pregnancy and early motherhood are overshadowed by depression. Up to one in four pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries experience depression—a staggering figure that isn’t often talked about. Yet, the consequences are profound.

As we celebrate International Day of Education, it’s important to address an often-overlooked factor that can affect students’ success: mental health. For many adolescents, untreated depression creates a significant barrier to learning, preventing them from reaching their full potential. We know that treating depression in adolescents can have a protective effect as well, providing self-awareness, improved interpersonal skills, and restored hope and resilience.

With nearly 2,000 cases of Mpox in Uganda as of a few weeks ago, it’s increasingly important to address the mental health impacts of the outbreak on affected communities. This is why StrongMinds partnered with World Vision and local Ugandan health authorities to embark on a community action campaign in the Mayuge District.

When we think about epidemics, we often focus on the physical symptoms and the race for medical solutions, yet we often overlook the toll epidemics take on mental health. While disease outbreaks cause extreme mental distress, good mental health can offer a protective factor in coping with future epidemics.

I wrote and designed this emergency appeal email.

I ideated the entire campaign from start to finish—from the overarching campaign theme to the individual email topics that relate back to the broader theme. I redesigned our email template and brought in new design features to make it more engaging. I planned out the entire sending schedule, and overall the entire campaign brought in (TBD).

Heavy rains in Uganda have triggered widespread flooding, leading to catastrophic landslides throughout the country. The Elgon region, a mountainous area straddling the border with Kenya, is prone to landslides (experiencing more than 400 since 2008) due to its steep slopes and heavy rainfall. Just ten days ago, a landslide claimed almost 30 lives, left 100 people missing, and displaced more than 3,000 households.

On December 1, we join the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day, a time to raise awareness and reflect on the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the work still ahead.  The African continent is disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, accounting for 70% of all global HIV cases. Three out of four newly infected adolescents globally are also from sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions.

Behind every statistic lies a human story—a life transformed and a spark of hope reignited. At StrongMinds, we’re incredibly proud of our numbers: we’re on track to exceed 335,000 people treated for depression this year alone. But the true impact of our work isn’t found in spreadsheets; it’s in the lives we’ve touched.

Together with one of my co-workers, I co-researched and co-wrote this report about our climate and our mental health and how StrongMinds is helping people and communities build resilience to better withstand climate-related disasters. I also designed the report as well.

Climate change is causing severe droughts in many parts of the world. Zambia is facing the worst drought in decades, causing widespread crop failures and crippling the country’s infrastructure, which relies on hydroelectric power. Many people are now facing starvation and hunger as well as severe economic hardship, as farmers and agricultural businesses lose significant income and profits.