Dr Tumbare's talk - A Successful Session on Scaling Community-Based Youth Mental Health
On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Esther Tumbare, Chief Executive Officer of Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, for a presentation entitled “Scaling Community-Based Youth Mental Health: Lessons from the Friendship Bench.”
Dr. Tumbare shared valuable insights into the origins, evidence base, and evolution of the Friendship Bench model, highlighting its role in expanding access to community-based mental health care, particularly for young people and underserved populations. Her presentation explored key lessons, opportunities, and challenges in scaling equitable and sustainable mental health interventions.
We warmly thank Dr. Tumbare for sharing her expertise and experience, as well as all participants who contributed to the discussion. The session was a great success, fostering meaningful exchanges on community-led innovation and the future of youth mental health.