Enabling Thriving
African Youth

Mental health issues prevent young people from flourishing. We enable thriving youths by making mental healthcare accessible in underserved regions of the world, starting with Kenya and Africa.

About Us See Our Impact

Pressure to excel academically causes stress and anxiety affecting his functioning in class and at home.

Youth Mental Health Issues can be Devastating

Mental health issues prevent young people from flourishing—care is neither affordable nor available.

Prevalence: 250m youths aged 10-19 globally

Burden of Disease: 45% of youth global disease burden

Disability: #1 cause of disability in under-resourced regions

Treatment Gap: >80% treatment gap in Africa

Sadly, mental health issues cause poor quality of life, increased risky behaviors, and enduring socio-economic challenges.

Our Story

Shamiri means"thrive." We are building a future where young people, everywhere, can unlock their full potential.

We Are Transforming Mental Health

We are a proud African company that is building for the world. Our mission is rooted in making mental healthcare both affordable and accessible to underserved youth.

We've designed an innovative, community-oriented caregiving model that is a template for expanding access to mental healthcare around the world. Our approach, backed by rigorous research and proven results, paves the way for a future where mental well-being is within reach for every young person.

Our Model

We are a proud African company that is building for the world. Our mission is rooted in making mental healthcare both affordable and accessible to underserved youth.

We've Designed for Impact at Scale

Over 250 million young people aged 10-19 struggle with mental health problems globally, with many of them in Africa. We train 18–22-year-olds to deliver effective therapy within a tiered community-based care model at scale.

See Our Impact

Recent Science and Evidence

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$15.15

Cost of delivery

Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Shamiri, a Brief, Layperson-Delivered Intervention for Kenyan Adolescents: RCT

Shamiri is a cost-effective method that can significantly reduce depression and anxiety. Non-expert providers can offer this effective treatment with just 10 days of training, compared to the several years required to become a licensed mental health provider.

0.52

Intervention effect size

An Arts-Literacy Intervention for Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: RCT

A brief arts-literacy after-school intervention, called Pretexts, effectively reduces depression and anxiety in adolescents, promising for Sub-Saharan youth mental health.

80%

Reduction in symptoms

Effect of Shamiri Layperson-Provided Intervention vs Study Skills Control Intervention for Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents in Kenya: RCT

The Shamiri intervention shows that scalable psychological interventions that invoke simple psychological principles, rather than explicit references to psychopathology, can alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms in Kenyan adolescents.

World Map illustration where Shamiri Institute for African Youth Mental health...

Shamiri means "thrive." Since 2019, we have provided accessible and effective mental health solutions to 100,000s of young people across Africa and beyond.

Enabling Thriving African Youth

Youth Mental Health Issues can be Devastating

We Are Transforming Mental Health

We've Designed for Impact at Scale

124k+ Youth Served

80%+ Depression and Anxiety Free

<$10 Cost Per Youth Served

1k+ Providers Trained and Employed

Recent Science and Evidence

Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Shamiri, a Brief, Layperson-Delivered Intervention for Kenyan Adolescents: RCT

An Arts-Literacy Intervention for Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: RCT

Effect of Shamiri Layperson-Provided Intervention vs Study Skills Control Intervention for Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents in Kenya: RCT

Enabling Thriving
African Youth