Mental illness is uniquely stigmatized, under-diagnosed, under-treated, and underfunded. It limits more people than any other ailment, independent of geography, income, age and gender. What if….? IF aims to catalyze meaningful improvement.
We target programs that are Effective & Cost-Efficient for the target population. In addition, we preferentially seek programs with potential to eventually be Self-sustainable & Scalable.
Our involvement will be selective:
Age Groups: Primarily Youth and the Elderly, in the near term.
Disease Type: Depression, Anxiety & Bipolar Disorder are our primary focus (though not exclusive).
Illness Severity: Primarily Mild/Moderate in the near term. Severe illnesses will be added over time and subject to partner expertise.
Intervention Type: A Disproportionate focus on Peer-based & Community-based interventions (whether “Preventive, Promotive, or Restorative”)
Collaboration Partners: Both Implementing Partners (e.g., communities & not-for-profits) as well as Facilitators (Governments, Academic institutions, Communities, and other Donors).
Invest in training, especially of non-specialist frontline workers. Help build their skills in comprehensive mental health care. This is one way of addressing the shortage of trained mental healthcare workers.
Promote empowerment with adequate supervision. Task-sharing and task-shifting are critical for effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and sustainability.