Mental Strength

Let's Be Transformed (MAGUFINA)

Mental Strength

Digital mental health support for refugee women blending AI therapy with trained peer counselors

Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Dowa District, Malawi

MWI

Nonprofit

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Mental health crises plague refugee women and adolescents in Dzaleka Camp, Malawi, where over 56,000 displaced people from D.R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Ethiopia struggle to rebuild their lives. Our community faces rates of trauma and depression 3.7 times higher than surrounding populations, with 82% of refugee women reporting symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following sexual violence during conflict or displacement journeys. Since 2019, Let's Be Transformed (MAGUFINA) has partnered with UNHCR and Malawi's Ministry of Health to establish community mental health support groups, training 45 refugee counselors who have conducted 4,200+ sessions. We have seen a 40% improvement in participants' mental health indicators. However, critical gaps persist. Our assessment reveals that 76% of mental health services remain inaccessible—local services cost $30-50 per session, impossible for refugees surviving on $5 monthly World Food Program stipends. Additionally, 67% of camp healthcare providers lack mental health training, and cultural stigma prevents 58% of affected women from seeking help. These barriers have worsened conditions, with gender-based violence cases increasing 28% in 2024 alone. This project will create an affordable, culturally-appropriate mental health technology solution to bridge these gaps and break cycles of trauma.

Mental Strength is a mobile-based mental health intervention combining AI-powered therapy with in-person support networks specifically designed for refugee women and adolescents. Our solution features an offline-capable app with culturally-adapted cognitive behavioral therapy modules in five languages spoken in Dzaleka. The app delivers evidence-based mental health screenings, personalized therapeutic content, and connects users with our network of trained refugee peer counselors. Our innovation lies in creating a bridge between digital intervention and community support—something 87% of refugees in our pilot survey identified as crucial for trust and engagement. This approach builds on our successful counselor training program, where we've documented a 40% reduction in PTSD symptoms among participants. Research from similar refugee settings shows digital mental health interventions achieve 62% higher engagement than traditional services alone, especially when culturally adapted. The technology uses minimal data and works offline—critical since 73% of camp residents have limited connectivity. The app anonymizes user data, protecting privacy in a community where 58% cite stigma as a barrier to seeking help. In our community assessment, 81% of women expressed willingness to use a private digital tool before seeking in-person help, confirming Mental Strength directly addresses the gaps in our current mental health ecosystem.

Mental Strength directly serves 8,400 refugee women and adolescents in Dzaleka Camp who have experienced conflict-related trauma, sexual violence, and displacement. Our community assessment revealed that 76% of these individuals show symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD, yet only 22% receive any form of mental health support. Most affected are women aged 16-45 from Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and Ethiopia who face multiple barriers to care. In our focus groups, 87% cited cost as prohibitive (with local services charging $30-50 per session against their $5 monthly stipend), while 64% mentioned language barriers with Malawian providers, and 58% feared community stigma. "I need help but cannot speak about what happened to me where others might hear," explained a 28-year-old Congolese mother in our needs assessment, reflecting a sentiment shared by 73% of participants who requested private, accessible mental health options. Mental Strength will impact their lives by providing confidential mental health screening and support without stigma, culturally-appropriate care in their native languages, skills to manage trauma symptoms, and connection to trained peer counselors when needed. Our pilot demonstrated that 81% of participants experienced reduced isolation and improved functioning after eight weeks, showing the potential of accessible mental health technology for this population.