What is the name of your organization?
Hey Akua
What is the name of your solution?
Hey Akua or Akua
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Hey Akua provides AI-powered mental health support to communities in Ghana, focusing on youth and young adults.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
San Francisco, CA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Roughly 4 million people in Ghana (13% of the population) suffer from mental health disorders, yet most lack access to formal treatment. This care gap is driven by a severe shortage of mental health professionals (estimated 1 psychiatrist per 15,000 people), pervasive social stigma preventing individuals from seeking help, and prohibitive costs associated with traditional care, including transportation and therapy fees. Lack of accessible support disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly youth and lower income families, hindering overall community well-being and economic potential.
What is your solution?
Hey Akua is an AI mental health assistant delivered via smartphone, designed to provide immediate, affordable, and accessible support integrated with local resources and context in Ghana. It offers a private, encrypted space for users to safely discuss challenges without risk, understand emotions, reflect on patterns, and build healthy habits, available 24/7 and to all smartphone users. The system helps triage users through an initial questionnaire, providing supportive conversations and coping strategies, while safety measures detect and escalate high-risk situations. By leveraging AI and deploying through smartphones, Hey Akua bridges the mental healthcare gap.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Hey Akua primarily focuses on young adults and university students in Ghana, a demographic significantly impacted by mental health challenges and more likely to adopt AI technologies, but often lacking resources or facing stigma. Our initial launch focuses on students at the University of Ghana and a youth program with 4,000 participants. We have also established a collaborative partnership with Total Life Enhancement Centre Ghana (TOLECGH) to share delivery of content and triage of professional services. By providing a confidential and affordable mental health tool, Hey Akua empowers users to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. It reduces barriers like cost, distance, and stigma, improving emotional well-being, fostering resilience, and potentially enhancing academic and personal success for Ghanaian youth.
