ART OF STORYTELLING
Tap Elderly Women's Wisdom for Youth (TEWWY)
Nearly 1 in 10 people have a mental health disorder, but only 1% of the global health workforce provides mental health care. Mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders interfere, in substantial ways, with the ability of children to learn and the ability of adults to function in families, at work, and in society at large. TEWWY taps the wisdom of grandmothers (Wisdom&Wellnessâ„ Counselors - WWCs) to serve the mental health needs of vulnerable populations. The WWCs implement psychosocial interventions to strengthen social supports and bridge the intergenerational and mental health treatment gap.
To date, TEWWY’s Mental Health Intervention Programs (MHIPs) have reached 17,975 people through its initiatives in Dar-es-Salaam’s 5 municipalities and in Kilwa, Lindi rural community. Its projects have exposed a dire need of mental health care. The projects have been demonstrated to create pivotal change in the communities; with increased help-seeking and growing participation in interpersonal counseling and group talk therapy by community members.
Project Information
A key metric for the organization is the number of people with MNS conditions identified and supported. WWCs administer a PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders — Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) — to understand the depression severity and its impact on the daily lives of people in Tanzania; plus additional multiple-choice and open-ended questions regarding stressors and coping mechanisms.
Visualizing data from its depression severity survey will make it possible for TEWWY to communicate the impact of the MHIP to key stakeholders, including communities, government partners, and funders, as well as the general public. It will also help elevate the conversation about mental health in Tanzania, and the importance of enacting mental health care in non-communicable disease policies.
Call-to-Action
Help communicate the impact the MHIP has had in local communities in Dar-es-Salaam by
creating engaging data visualizations; to raise awareness and inspire support towards
mental health initiatives.
Audience
Government partners, funders, small donors, key stakeholders, and communities.
Data visualisation will be used on our media and communication channels - website, blog,
social media, progress and annual reports, grant applica2ons, and other communications
Data
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Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) - Choose between raw and pivoted data
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Stress Assessement - Choose between raw and pivoted data
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Extra data: Mental Health in Tanzania