Mezah Foundation Bridges Continents to Advance Psychosocial Rehabilitation at WAPR 2025
Vancouver, Canada – September 27, 2025 — In a groundbreaking demonstration of transcontinental collaboration, the Mezah Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C., is making a powerful mark at the XV World Congress of the World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR 2025). With a delegation of six fully sponsored representatives from both the United States and Africa, the Foundation is spotlighting its innovative digital mental health initiatives aimed at bridging the global gap in access to psychosocial rehabilitation.
Founded on the principle of mental health equity, the Mezah Foundation has emerged as a dynamic force in Africa’s mental health landscape. Its mission centers on delivering culturally sensitive psychosocial support to underserved communities in Central and West Africa, where stigma and systemic barriers continue to impede access to care.
“Innovative AI-Driven Solutions for Reducing Mental Health Stigma and Expanding Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Central and West Africa,” a featured abstract at this year’s congress, encapsulates Mezah’s pioneering work. Presented by Salim Kanghamih Mbuih, the Foundation’s Regional Representative for Central and West Africa, the session highlights how artificial intelligence and mobile technology are transforming lives across the continent.
At the heart of this transformation are two cutting-edge programs: the Blind Chat App and InspireWebApp. These digital platforms connect individuals in Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana with licensed U.S.-based mental health professionals—including therapists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and social workers—through secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual sessions. The services are delivered in English and local languages, ensuring accessibility and cultural resonance.
Since their launch in 2022, Mezah’s digital mental health services have reached over 3,500 individuals across three countries. Notably, 83% of users report reduced stigma and a greater willingness to seek continued care—a significant milestone in regions where mental illness is often met with silence or shame. The Foundation’s telehealth network now includes more than 40 licensed clinicians based in the United States who donate their time or work on subsidized contracts to serve African communities.
“Our presence at WAPR 2025 is not just symbolic—it is strategic,” said Miriane Melong, Secretary General of Mezah Foundation. “We are here to amplify the voices of communities often excluded from global health conversations. By connecting African clients with U.S.-based professionals through technology, we are reshaping what cross-border mental health collaboration can look like.”
For Salim Kanghamih Mbuih, who leads the Foundation’s field implementation in West and Central Africa, the conference serves as a catalyst for deeper partnerships. “This moment is about capacity building, about bringing tools, visibility, and dignity to African mental health systems,” he said. “We’re not importing solutions—we’re co-creating them.”
The Foundation’s commitment to equity is further reflected in its sponsorship of all six delegates attending the congress. These individuals, comprising mental health advocates, clinicians, and tech developers, represent a living embodiment of the North-South collaboration that WAPR 2025 seeks to promote.
With global mental health needs intensifying in the wake of COVID-19 and economic dislocation, Mezah Foundation’s scalable, technology-enabled approach offers a compelling model for other nonprofits, governments, and international organizations.
As the conference unfolds in Vancouver, Mezah Foundation’s impact is reverberating far beyond the conference halls—resonating in community health centers, university classrooms, and refugee camps where access to a compassionate, competent mental health provider can change the trajectory of a life.
About Mezah Foundation
Founded in Washington, D.C., the Mezah Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health access and psychosocial rehabilitation across underserved African populations. Through digital innovation, strategic partnerships, and culturally informed care, the Foundation works to dismantle stigma and build resilient mental health systems across borders.
For more information, visit www.mezahfoundation.org or contact info@mezahfoundation.org.