Promotion of Mental Health amongst Youths

Updated February 4, 2026

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Key Details

Organisation Name

Lifafa Research Foundation

Location

Buea, Cameroon

Website

Social

eMHIC Member Status

Trailblazer

At a Glance

Description

This flagship initiative delivers youth mental health education and community resilience programs in vulnerable schools and communities across crisis-affected regions of Cameroon.

Implementation Status

Routine service delivery

Integrated across schools, communities, and digital platforms in Cameroon’s South West Region, the initiative delivers youth mental health education, counselling, and Psychological First Aid via peer educators, partnerships, and pathways.

Target Population

Young People and Adolescents

Aged 10–35 years in crisis-affected areas

Families and Communities

Parents, caregivers, community members supporting youths

Education and Healthcare

Secondary schools, peer educators, health facilities

Research and Government

Government ministries, academic research community

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Initiative Overview

The Current Gap

The program addresses the critical gap in mental health awareness, early identification, and access to care for young people, particularly where stigma, limited services, and low mental health literacy persist. This initiative directly responds to the shortage of youth-friendly mental health services, poor help-seeking behaviors, and the demystification of mental illness. By empowering youths, schools, and communities with knowledge and practical skills, the program strengthens resilience, promotes early intervention, and improves pathways to specialized mental health care.

What else should we know?

Our Solution

The initiative combines community-based mental health education, advocacy, and Psychological First Aid (PFA) with peer-led and school-based interventions. Through outreach campaigns, mental health clubs, trained peer educators and guidance counselors, virtual support platforms, and referral linkages, the program provides safe spaces for youths to discuss mental health concerns and access timely support. It also integrates digital communication tools to reach at-risk youths who may not access in-person services.

Key Features

1

Youth-Led and Peer-Driven Approach

Designed and implemented by young people to ensure relevance, trust, and meaningful youth engagement.

2

Community- and School-Based Interventions

Direct engagement within schools and vulnerable communities in fragile and crisis-affected settings.

3

Integrated Mental Health Education and Advocacy

Combines awareness raising, stigma reduction, and rights-based advocacy to demystify mental illness.

4

Psychological First Aid (PFA) Delivery

Provision of immediate, culturally appropriate psychosocial support by trained peer educators and guidance counselors.

5

Early Identification and Screening

Use of standardized tools to detect depression, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health challenges among youths.

6

Multi-Sectoral Partnerships and Referral Pathways

Collaboration with government institutions, CSOs, healthcare providers, and academic partners to improve access to specialized mental health services.

Collaboration in Action

Main Collaborators

Grand Challenges Canada
The BRAINS Association
Prime Counseling
Lesley Foundation
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS)
Education and Sports for All
Ministry of Public Health
Ministry of Youth and Civic Education
Ministry of Secondary Education
Royal Academy Higher Institute of Health Sciences (RAHIHS)
Cameroon Nursing and Midwifery Professional Association
DIBA Holistic Wellness Care
Creators Initiative

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Key Learnings

Main Challenges

Sustained youth and community engagement: Ensuring initiatives are trusted, relevant, and embedded within schools, families, and community structures. Local capacity and workforce development: Building and maintaining skills among peer educators, counsellors, and facilitators beyond the project lifecycle. Access to evidence and expertise: Overcoming limited local availability of research, best practices, and specialised mental health knowledge without international collaboration.

Important Lessons

Youth leadership is essential: Involving young people in design and implementation increases relevance, trust, and engagement. Capacity building is critical: Training peer educators, guidance counselors, and facilitators creates a multiplier effect beyond the project team. Multiple delivery channels matter: Combining in-person and digital platforms expands reach and continuity. Data and research drive improvement: Needs assessments and feedback strengthen programs and advocacy.

Collaborative Insights

International collaboration was essential to Lifafa Research Foundation’s initiative, providing access to global expertise, evidence-based practices, and innovative youth mental health approaches not yet widely available in Cameroon. International partners supported benchmarking, adoption of proven interventions, and strengthened research capacity. Knowledge exchange through global networks enabled peer learning and awareness of emerging tools and digital solutions. These partnerships also enhanced advocacy, attracted technical support, and strengthened credibility with local stakeholders, including government and community organisations.

Looking Ahead

Future Plans

Lifafa Research Foundation aims to scale up its youth mental health initiative by expanding to additional secondary schools and vulnerable communities across Cameroon, reaching a larger population of at-risk youths. The Foundation plans to integrate digital mental health solutions such as the ChillPill 24/7 app, providing AI-powered screening, psychosocial support, therapy referrals, and resilience-building tools to complement in-person interventions.

Opportunities

To find out about any opportunities, contact Lifafa Kinge (details below).

What's the future Vision

Further phases include strengthening research and data collection to better understand mental health trends among youths, developing evidence-based interventions, and publishing findings to inform policy and advocacy. LRF has developed a peer educator’s manual and a guidance counselor’s manual and will continue capacity building for peer educators, guidance counselors, and community actors to ensure local ownership and sustainability. The initiative also plans to expand advocacy efforts, leveraging partnerships with government ministries, CSOs, and academic institutions to influence policy, reduce stigma, and improve access to specialized men