The M'uzanga Project. M'uzanga is a Niyanja word for friend.

Ndine M'uzanga (You are my friend and you are not alone).

Zambia has a high record of mental health challenges that are not adequately treated. Research explains that a "Two hit theory" exists in the way an individual is predisposed to a mental health disease.

To break it down, we are all made from a basic blueprint (DNA), unlike other diseases. Health diseases that affect the brain don't have one piece of faulty DNA.There's a multiple faulty amount that you may have inherited. This is the first Hit! And so different people are at risk for different mental health problems. Now even if you are born with faulty DNA. As humans, we do not easily suffer from mental health diseases until life and its stressors get to us which is the second Hit. And this is when your brain will break. Simply put- poverty, HIV/ Aids, Gender Based Violence, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Abuse and drug and alcohol abuse are ALL major life stressors that are pushing many Zambian youths into mental health disability. Zambia does not have an adequate mental health system to deal with various mental health problems. We notably only have one Hospital called Chainama Hospital where mental patients go to and this is often dealing with severe mentally disabled patients. Due to the stigma of mental health in Zambia, Zambians who suffer from day to day stressors as outlined above do not wish to seek help at Chainama. Sadly, the Zambian population to mental health provision ratio is below average and this project will help cushion the burden of mental health. The M'uzanga project is an effective and simple way to empower communities with the basic training of psychological first aid – a proven World Health Organisation aid. It will work closely with the elderly as they are the pillars of many communities and families as well as engaging youth who can impart a positive structural support to their peers. Positive Peer pressure may have a tremendous impact on drug abuse and early pregnancies. It will provide communities with primary psychotherapy and psychosocial services within their own homes and areas.

This will help tackle the stigma associated with mental health. In the near future it will have a positive generational impact in communities and societies by enabling empowerment of communities and help fight the growing burden of mental health. It will help cushion the "second hit" that many Zambians are predisposed to everyday. 

It partners with community leaders both young and old, training people whom the community are familiar with and trust. It is cost effective as they don’t require years of training. Using the Trainer-of-Trainer model, they will be able to train others and keep the program running.

1 - It will link both providers and users of their services to more experienced help.

2 - It can provide a lifeline for users in crisis

3 - Can set up an anonymous lifeline for community members.

1- To build community resilience, by introducing a user friendly support framework

2- Empower communities from within with basic psychological support 

3- Enable the provision of feasible mental care within communities and not necessarily wanting health center care.

4- To build a basic referral system with regards to mental health care within communities. 

5- Provide a lifeline for users in crisis. 

6- Set up an anonymous lifeline for community members.

The concept of how the "2 hit theory" can predispose individuals to a mental health disorder. 

Hit 1 is what an individual is born with. Inherited faulty DNA. Even if you are born with faulty DNA, it does not mean you will have a mental health problem. 

A mental health problem developes after any life stressors (e.g poverty) over the period of one's life can trigger the "second hit" and this predisposes one to mental health challenges. The idea with the M'zanga project, is to empower communities to be resilient enough to abate the second Hit.  

Create a program to enable training members within communities on primary psychological first aid. This will equate to communities having to basic mental health support right at their door steps. 

In 12 months. Target 2 urban communities. Train 25 elderly and 25 youth in each community. Each community caters for an average population of 5 000 people. 

In 3 years. Expand the M'uzanga project network to link in supporting neighboring communities. 

Team Leader: is a youth medical doctor working at the tertiary mental health hospital in Zambia. Has insight on the burden and statistics of mental health in Zambia. Has experience in preventive health advocacy, 
Team Finance: is an entrepreneur and community support consultant who has experience with community run projects.

- Creative and sustainable team 
- Access to a wide youth network. 
- Altruistic members. 

The idea is to get.

1- Mentorship from solve network to make the project feasible 

2- Get more insight on the shortfalls and objectives from the solve community 

3- Support with funds not just for the project but also get support in carrying out community surveys on mental health and statistics. 

4- With the help of solve, we can possibly have an international network of mental health provision using the M'uzanga project 

5- Despite it being a non for profit preventive health project, get insight from the solve community to make it a self sustainable project.

1 - Mentorship. Need for support from the solve community.

2- Finance, this being a health driven project.  Solve can aid with fiance and help identify means of making the project self sustainable.

3- Expansion. Solve can help with ideas on how to expand the project and meet help as many individuals as possible.

4- Break the stigma against mental health and its disease burden in Zambia by introducing this grass-root level project.