The 2025 recipient of the Leadership Excellence Award for Bangladesh is the Women Support Initiative Forum.

In Bangladesh, a grassroots, women-led movement is turning digital connection into vital care. In a context where stigma, distance, and cost prevent many from accessing help, the Women Support Initiative Forum has built safe, trusted spaces for women to speak, be heard, and begin to heal on their own terms.

Since 2018, their digital-first model has combined peer support, psychoeducation, and affordable counselling into one accessible pathway. A women-only Facebook community of over 70,000 members provides anonymity and empathy. Their 24/7 chat and referral service follows a simple but powerful model: listen, advise, refer. Regular sessions, both online and in person, build mental health literacy and support sustainable self-care.

During lockdowns, when many support systems were unavailable, the platform stepped up, fielding over 10,000 anonymous posts and scaling to provide culturally sensitive, timely support. By training young mental health advocates and collaborating with psychosocial professionals, psychologists, and legal experts, the initiative is fostering lasting resilience within the community.

This courageous, community-driven leadership exemplifies innovation, dedication, and meaningful impact in mental health care.

Congratulations to the Women Support Initiative Forum.