Championing Mental Health Equity in Zanzibar
At WAJAMAMA, July was all about amplifying mental health equity. Inspired by Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we leaned into our commitment to ensure that women from economically marginalized communities receive the holistic care they deserve.
1 in 3 mothers in Zanzibar quietly battle perinatal depression or anxiety; however, stigma, a lack of trained providers, and financial barriers leave most without the care and support they desperately need.
WAJAMAMA envisions a world where Zanzibari women and children of all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to comprehensive healthcare services. We know that a healthy person not only has a healthy body, but a healthy mind, too. In a world where mental health is often inaccessible and stigmatized, we ensure that all clients have access to quality mental health care through education and direct care.
That’s why our Group Care Model (GCM) integrates reproductive, maternal, and mental health services–simultaneously addressing physical and emotional wellbeing. We focus on both direct care and community-based education to break stigma, improve access, and ensure no woman is left behind.
How We’re Taking Action
Training for Impact
Education is a powerful tool to challenge stigmas surrounding mental health. In July, we onboarded 20 new clinicians who are beginning their journey as Community Clinical Facilitators (CCFs) with us, learning to lead and facilitate GCM sessions. Part of their training to become facilitators included training on assessing perinatal depression and learning to facilitate mental health sessions within our GCM. Many women may not recognize they struggle with a mental health condition, normalizing their distress as a natural part of life or the expected hardships of motherhood. As part of our CCF training, providers are equipped with knowledge and tools to create safe spaces for women to learn about the importance of expressing their feelings in healthy ways.
“It is more about creating awareness and naming exactly what it means when it comes to mental health.” – Jacqueline Owden, WAJAMAMA Mental Health and Safeguarding Officer
CCFs listen to our Jacqueline Owden, Mental Health and Safeguarding Officer, as she facilitates a mental health training.
Creating Referral Pathways
Through our GCM, we continue to offer free mental health services for mamas living in economically marginalized communities who live on less than $3 per day. In addition to providing direct care, we also refer clients to available psychologists. The results speak for themselves: 96% of GCM participants report feeling better supported mentally.
Jacqueline Owden facilitates a mental health workshop with male community members in Kizimkazi.
Planning for Scale
Looking ahead, we are committed to fully embedding mental health into our GCM, ensuring that every mama we serve has access to comprehensive, high-quality care that nurtures both body and mind. This integration means mental health support will no longer be an optional add-on, but rather, it will be a core part of antenatal care for GCM participants, and eventually across Zanzibar once we scale our solution.
Our work is gaining momentum on a global scale: we recently joined the Coalition for Scaling Mental Health (CSMH), a global network of organizations dedicated to expanding access to equitable mental health services. This partnership will allow us to share best practices, leverage innovative strategies, and strengthen our capacity to reach more women across Zanzibar.
At WAJAMAMA, we believe mental health is a right, not a privilege. Every woman deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe, both in their body and their mind.
This summer, you can help us make that a reality:
Our Summer Fundraiser is raising vital funds to expand maternal and mental health care across Zanzibar, reaching more women, more families, and more communities. Every contribution, big or small, helps break barriers to care and ensures that no woman faces motherhood alone.
Thank you for standing with us as we continue to build healthier futures for mamas and babies in Zanzibar. Together, we are shaping a future where mental health is recognized as a fundamental right and where every mother can thrive, not just survive.
