The Challenge
50% of all mental health conditions begin by age 14.
​In Ugnada, nearly 1 in 4 young people experiences a mental health condition, yet fewer than 10% receive support. Stigma, limited awareness, and a shortage of mental health professionals continue to restrict access to care.
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With nearly 14 million students and fewer than 50 psychiatrists nationwide, Uganda's mental health workforce cannot meet the scale of need. Most schools lack structured systems to identify students who need support and connect them to appropriate care.
Why Schools?
"Schools are where young people spend most of their time. If we want to reach students early, schools must be part of the solution. With limited specialist capacity, schools provide the most practical and scalable opportunity to protect youth mental health."
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Godfrey Kagaayi
Founder & Executive Director
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Our Approach
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We build mental health support into Ugandan schools. Working within the Ministry of Education and Sports' framework, we equip existing staff to identify, support, and refer students early—using the resources schools already have.
Prevention
We embed mental health literacy and life skills into daily school life to build resilience and reduce stigma.
Response
We equip teachers to spot early warning signs of distress and provide immediate psychological first aid on campus.
Referral
We bridge the gap between schools, families, and healthcare providers, creating clear steps to connect students to professional care.
Our Impact
Twogere is building Uganda’s largest school-based mental health system.
100+
Schools Actively Implementing Our Model
Schools Actively Implementing Our Model
The Voices
Psychological First Aid training completely changed my approach. I now recognize and respond to students with mental health needs.
Teacher, Mulago School for the Deaf
It helped me realize I wasn’t alone. Having a teacher who listens without judgment is why I stayed in school.
Student, Kitante Secondary School
100+
Schools implementing our
model
1500+
Teachers trained as frontline responders
100,000+
Students reached, and rapidly scaling across Uganda’s education system.
