IMPROVING
MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS AND
EDUCATION FOR
WOMEN & GIRLS
THE CHALLENGE
MENTAL HEALTH
Depression and anxiety affect over 600 million people worldwide, and mental disorders account for 30% of the global non-fatal disease burden. Half of people suffering from depression are not diagnosed, and in the world’s poorest countries, only 1 in 27 people suffering from mental illness receive treatment.
WOMEN AND GIRLS
In the developing world, women are almost two times more likely than men to experience depression in their lifetimes, holding back their personal and economic potential. The effect of a woman with mental health issues often extends to her family and community.
AWARENESS
Lack of awareness and stigma are two of the three leading barriers to diagnosis or treatment, and in LMICs (low-and-middle income countries), there is an extreme shortage of mental health professionals to provide education; 45% of the world's population lives in a country with <1 psychiatrist per 100,000 people.
THE SOLUTION
01 / EDUCATION THROUGH ART
Culturally-sensitive art therapy exercises, designed by mental health providers, are used to learn and discuss concepts in mental illness (e.g., depression and anxiety) and mental wellness (e.g., resilience and self-esteem).
02 / GROUP WORKSHOPS
All workshops and exercises are carried out in group settings in order to create a safe space for women and girls to explore their emotions, share their stories, and provide each other on-going support.
03 / SCALE VIA PARTNERSHIPS
thisisforHER amplifies reach and impact by partnering with existing organizations working with women and girls to integrate the exercises into their own programmatic work (e.g., poverty, education, domestic violence).
IMPACT
PILOT PARTNERS
I learned the different thoughts a person has and which are dangerous or indicators of a more serious problem.
I realised that with art therapy, women are able to process their pain. Eventually, they are able to talk about their issues. In addition, the workshop methods also help one assess whether they might need further help.
I treasure my art book. It is a jewel. I am able to use art to process my emotions and also employ art therapy to help other members of our organisation.
TEAM
SAUMYA DAVE, M.D.
CO-FOUNDER
Saumya Dave educates and treats women with depression every day. Through her work as a psychiatrist and writer, she has seen the powerful role that supportive and culturally sensitive conversations play in tackling mental health stigma. She has seen, first hand, the devastating impact of depression on women, their families, and their communities. Saumya believes that women and girls can be empowered through mental health education and support.
Saumya Dave is a Chief Psychiatry Resident at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital. She has written for The New York Times, ABC News, British Medical Journal, Lancet, and others. She is also the author of a forthcoming novel.
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You can find out more about her at www.saumyadave.com.
SAMIR SHETH
CO-FOUNDER
Samir Sheth is the Co-Founder of thisisforHER. Using his business and investing experience, he is focused on growing thisisforHER into a scalable, cost-effective, and high impact model. Samir is passionate about mental health. He believes that educating women and girls in mental illness and wellness concepts is one of the keys to unlocking their human and economic potential. Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion each year, while for every dollar spent in mental health, there is a fourfold return-on-investment.
He is also the Publisher and Chief Business Officer of News Deeply. News Deeply platforms convene stakeholders and thought-leaders on some of the world’s most important topics and issues, such as women's economic advancement, refugees and migration, and malnutrition.
