In a world where health disparities persist, advancing health equity requires requires global collaboration and actionable solutions that support individuals and transform systems. Our Health Equity Series is designed to equip women with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to advocate for their health and navigate healthcare systems that can often feel inaccessible, dismissive, and riddled with systemic biases. Each session in this series tackles a specific healthcare issue while offering practical tools to create tangible outcomes.
In our first session, we’re exploring the topic of Harnessing Holistic and Culturally Competent Care for Mental Health and Wellbeing in collaboration with Nivishe Foundation in Kenya. This session will feature global perspectives and highlight culturally grounded approaches from across the world. Together, we’ll dive into key topics, including:
- The Importance of Culturally Competent Care: Understand how integrating cultural awareness and sensitivity into mental health practices enhances accessibility and fosters trust within diverse communities.
- Health Promotion vs. Disease Prevention: Explore why mental health care must go beyond treating symptoms to promote holistic well-being, reframing mental health as a continuum of wellness rather than merely the absence of disease.
- Decolonizing Mental Health Care: Unpack the limitations of Western approaches that often pathologize mental health, exploring how they overlook cultural contexts and indigenous practices. We will highlight examples of community-driven and indigenous practices that have effectively reshaped mental health care models, offering inspiration for equitable care approaches worldwide.
Join us in reimagining mental health care to be inclusive, culturally resonant, and centered on fostering holistic well-being.
Register Below!
Our Speakers:
Chisom Udeze is an accomplished Economist, Strategist, Investor, and Founder with nearly two decades of experience leading impact-driven companies and actioning societal change. She serves on multiple boards, including as chair, and holds advisory roles across three continents.
Her global work spans seven countries and includes collaborations with organizations like the European Commission and Boston Consulting Group. Chisom champions democracy, sustainability, justice, and community driven and multi-stakeholder change-making. She also spearheads the Diversify Nordics Summit, a leading conference for leadership and innovation. A passionate advocate for mental health, Chisom enjoys tennis, reading, writing, and has published on Forbes.
Amisa Rashid is a renowned mental health practitioner, neuropsychologist, anda mental health advocate, celebrated for her innovative contributions to mental health care in Africa. As the Founder and Executive Director of Nivishe Foundation, she has spearheaded culturally sensitive interventions for underserved and marginalized communities. Notable innovations include the launch of Africa’s first mental health comic book, designed to promote mental health literacy among youth, and “AmisaGPT,” an AI chatbot that offers therapy support in Swahili and Sheng, tailored to local contexts.
A neurodiverse leader and advocate for lived experiences, Amisa actively champions inclusive, Africanized mental health solutions. Her expertise extends to the decolonization of mental health care, as showcased in her writings and advocacy efforts. She has been recognized with numerous accolades, including Kenya’s Top 40 Under 40 Women (2024) and being named among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans in 2021 and 2023.
Amisa’s influence spans diverse platforms: she serves on the Mental Health Technical Working Committee for Nairobi County, the Community Advisory Board for Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute, and as a Board Director for SHM Foundation. Additionally, she is a Trustee for organizations like Restless Development, Irise UK, and the Young Women Leadership Institute. She also co-founded Dawah Counseling Center to provide Shariah-sensitive mental health support for Muslim women.
A 2024 Echoing Green Fellow and WomenLift Health Fellow, Amisa embodies transformative leadership in mental health care. Her unwavering commitment to youth, women, and marginalized groups has positioned her as a thought leader driving systemic change, empowering communities to thrive emotionally and mentally.