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Professor Dixon Chibanda

Professor

LSHTM Profile
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Dixon Chibanda started the Friendship Bench in one of Harare’s townships called Mbare in 2007 and conceptualized the first Friendship Bench intervention that has now been refined and adapted considerably.

He has been involved in mental health research for many years. Dixon is a key player in bringing the various stakeholders from local health authorities, health professionals, national and international researchers and donors together to form successful collaborations. In his role as PI, he has led the Friendship Bench team through the rigorous exercise of the randomized control trial (RCT) which was able to deliver evidence for the intervention’s effectiveness. He is currently leading the team as they scale-up the Friendship Bench to over 60 primary health care clinics in the country.

Dixon Chibanda is also Director of the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI)

In Staff
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Key research Projects

African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI)

Building an Africa-led network of future leaders in mental, neurological and substance use research

African Youth in Mind

Interventions for Youth with Depression and Anxiety in African Countries

ASSET – NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Health System Strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa

Improving the quality and outcomes of surgical, maternal and integrated primary health care

Improving Adolescent mental health by reducing the impact of Poverty (ALIVE)

SUCCEED: Support, Comprehensive Care and Empowerment of People with Psychosocial Disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Friendship Bench

Uses a brief psychological approach based on problem-solving therapy carried out by lay health workers