The Friendship Bench, a program founded by psychiatrist Dr. Dixon Chibanda in Zimbabwe, utilizes trained grandmothers to provide mental health support in underserved communities. Inspired by the loss of a patient to suicide due to lack of access to care, Dr. Chibanda recognized the potential of grandmothers as trusted figures within their communities.
The program, which began in 2006, has expanded to include over 3,000 older listeners who have helped more than 300,000 people in Zimbabwe. The Friendship Bench is now being piloted in nine countries, including the United States, where it is helping individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
The program's success is attributed to the grandmothers' empathy, life experience, and ability to empower individuals to find their own solutions. Research has shown that the grandmothers are more effective than trained mental health professionals in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The Friendship Bench provides a model for addressing the global mental health crisis by leveraging community resources and promoting accessible, culturally sensitive care.