Stigma, cost, and scarce services remain barriers for sub-Saharan Africa youth to access care for their mental health. Digital tools on basic phones offer promise, but but evidence has been limited… until Digital MindSKILLZ.
We are excited to share that a peer-reviewed paper on Digital MindSKILLZ has been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health as part of its Special Issue on Advancing Youth Mental Health: Innovations, Integration, and Equity.
Read the open-access article here: Link to publication
Developed by Grassroot Soccer and facilitated by Viamo, Digital MindSKILLZ is a gamified, voice-based mental health intervention accessible on basic mobile phones. It was implemented across six Sub-Saharan African countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia), reaching more than 700,000 users in just seven months.
A Major Milestone for Youth Mental Health
As of 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that mental healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa remains “inefficient, inadequate, and inequitable.” With limited services, high stigma, and major barriers to access, millions of young people are left without the support they need.
This is why Digital MindSKILLZ was created: to provide a private, accessible, and scalable mental health intervention, delivered directly to basic mobile phones through voice technology. By combining gamification with localized, youth-centered content, the program empowers young people with knowledge, coping skills, and encouragement to seek help when needed.
How Viamo Facilitated its Implementation
Digital MindSKILLZ was delivered through Viamo’s nationwide voice-based platforms, made accessible via shortcodes provided by partner Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) including Airtel, MTN, and Vodacom. Through these long-standing partnerships, young people can access the program toll-free or at very low cost, ensuring reach even in low-resource settings.
Once connected, users can choose between:
- Concise, voice-based lessons on stress, stigma, and seeking help
- Practical skills exercises for relaxation, emotional regulation, and strengths-building
- A soccer trivia quiz, designed to spark interest and draw in users who might not initially seek out mental health content
To maximize accessibility, the program was translated and recorded by youth voice actors in local languages, from Luganda in Uganda, to Hausa, Yoruba, and Pidgin in Nigeria, to Kinyarwanda in Rwanda, and more. These adaptations ensure the content isn’t generic, but familiar, relatable so ensure young people engage with it.
Listen to an extract here:
Measurable Impact
- Reach: More than 425,000 users listened to at least one mental health message, with nearly two-thirds under the age of 25.
- Accessibility: Over 68% of users were from rural areas, showing the power of voice-based tools in low-connectivity settings.
- Engagement: Nearly half of participants accessed coping skills content, while the gamified soccer quiz drew in over 50% of users.
- Acceptability: 91% of surveyed users understood the content and 85% said they would recommend the program to a friend.
- Knowledge Gaps: While users scored well on healthy habits (e.g., sleep, goal-setting), misconceptions persisted around stigma and depression, highlighting the importance of continued education.
Looking Ahead
This publication and our collaboration marks an important step in building the evidence base for digital mental health interventions in Africa. The findings will inform future iterations of Digital MindSKILLZ and ongoing research, including a planned pilot trial in Malawi.
At its core, Digital MindSKILLZ shows that with the right design, technology can break barriers and bring mental health support to those who need it most.
Would you like to know more about Viamo and our mission to make digital truly accessible?
Read the open-access article here: Link to publication
Publication Authors
- Christopher K. Barkley
- Charmaine N. Nyakonda
- Kondwani Kuthyola
- Polite Ndlovu
- Devyn Lee
- Andrew Dallos
- Danny Kofi-Armah
- Priscilla Obeng
- Katherine G. Merrill
Leads
- Grassroot Soccer
- Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, University of Illinois Chicago
