Theirworld Innovation Project Profile: Mental Health Integration for Better Health and Education Outcomes (MHIBO)
Project Background:
MUCOBADI developed an integrated intervention for vulnerable adolescents and young people to address three connected gaps: high school attrition, sub-optimal paediatric HIV treatment adherence and low viral suppression. Depression and anxiety disorders, compounded by stigma, inferiority complexes and gender-based violence, were identified as core barriers to both education and health outcomes.
MUCOBADI therefore expanded its Interpersonal Therapy for Groups (IPT-G) innovation across schools, refugee communities and paediatric HIV facilities. The model has optimised viral load suppression among children living with HIV (CLHIV), institutionalised mental health services at health facility level, and improved retention and academic performance among school-going beneficiaries.
MUCOBADI, with support from Theirworld Innovation, is implementing MHIBO in Bugiri and Mukono districts. The project targets adolescents and young people aged 13 to 25, including refugees in Mukono, and aims to address depression and other common mental health challenges through evidence-based Interpersonal Therapy for Groups (IPT-G).
The intervention gives young people accessible psychosocial support and strengthens the link between mental wellbeing, HIV care, school retention and academic performance.
Project Focus Areas:
- Expanding Peer-Led Mental Health Support:
- Group therapy (IPT-G) for adolescents and young people in schools, health facilities and refugee communities
- Collaboration with district health workers and Strong Mind Champions
- Joint support supervision with government ministries and the Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health
- Mental Health Integration in Paediatric HIV Care:
- Addressing depression, anxiety and stigma as barriers to adherence
- Improving viral load suppression among children living with HIV
- Caregiver Economic Resilience:
- Caregiver savings groups to meet the essential needs of children living with HIV
- School Retention and Academic Performance:
- Tackling the psychosocial barriers behind absenteeism and dropout
- Building supportive learning environments
Key Achievements:
People reached against target
Who was reached
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Participating schools allocated one hour to mental health activities and dedicated 1% of their budgets to them, a sign of growing institutional commitment.
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Strengthened relationships between teachers and learners, with schools reporting reduced absenteeism and dropout and improved academic performance.
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Caregiver savings groups help families buy school requirements, pay transport to health facilities and provide basic nutrition.
Strengthening Frontline Facilitators:
To deliver IPT-G effectively and sustainably, MUCOBADI identified and trained 32 facilitators from existing health and education structures.
This multidisciplinary team facilitates group therapy sessions for adolescents and young people across schools, health facilities and refugee communities, so that mental health support is available within familiar service delivery structures.
Where We Work:
In Bugiri District, MHIBO is delivered through a network of health facilities and schools.
Participating health facilities (among others): Bugiri Municipal Council HC III, URHB, Bugiri Main Hospital, Nankoma HC IV, Kayango HC III, Nabukalu HC III, Buluguyi HC III, Iwemba HC III, Busowa HC II, Buwunga HC III, Wakawaka HC III, Mayuge HC III, Kapyanga HC III and Kayogera HC II.
Participating schools (among others): Muterere Secondary School, Buwunga Secondary School, Bukooli College, Buluguyi Seed Secondary School, Town View PEAS, Iwemba Seed Secondary School, St. Stephen Secondary School, Naminyagwe Primary School, Busowa Primary School, Nakavule Primary School, Ndifakulya Primary School, Busanzi Primary School and Namayemba Muslim Primary School.
Mukono District: MHIBO reaches refugee communities only, so no health facilities or schools are listed for Mukono.
Through this integrated model, MUCOBADI and Theirworld Innovation are building the capacity of schools and health facilities to identify and respond to mental health challenges, widening access to evidence-based psychosocial support, and creating environments in which young people can thrive in both health and education.
Key Impact Areas:
Expanding peer-led mental health support. MUCOBADI is widening access to community-based, peer-led support for depression and anxiety among vulnerable adolescents and young people, children living with HIV, caregivers and refugee communities. Results were reinforced through collaboration among district health workers, Strong Mind Champions and MUCOBADI, with joint support supervision from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health.
Schools are also institutionalising mental health. Participating schools have allocated one hour to mental health activities and dedicated 1% of their budgets to them, a sign of growing institutional commitment.
Strengthening economic resilience among caregivers. Caregiver savings groups help families meet the essential needs of children living with HIV. Members mobilise funds to buy school requirements, pay transport to health facilities for routine HIV treatment and follow-up, and provide basic nutrition. This supports continuity of HIV care and better educational and health outcomes.
Improved viral load suppression among children living with HIV. Integrating IPT-G into paediatric HIV care addresses depression, anxiety, stigma and other psychosocial barriers to adherence. Stronger mental health support promotes adherence to antiretroviral therapy and contributes to better viral load suppression.
Better school retention and academic performance. IPT-G in schools addresses the psychosocial barriers behind absenteeism and dropout. Building emotional wellbeing, resilience and supportive learning environments promotes sustained attendance, retention and better academic performance.
Change Stories:
Finding strength again: Cissy’s healing journey
Cissy is an 18-year-old young woman living with HIV and the first-born in a family of six children. When she became pregnant, her relationship with her parents deteriorated. Her father mistreated her and insisted that she leave and get married. Under this emotional pressure, she stopped taking her antiretroviral medication on time, her health worsened and rashes appeared on her body.
Things began to change when Cissy joined the IPT-G sessions. She shared her struggles with the group, and its members helped her think through practical solutions. One key action was to involve her father and help him understand what she was going through. He was reached and sensitised, responded positively and committed to supporting her. He also improved her diet and overall care.
Today Cissy takes her medication consistently, her rashes have disappeared, and she is preparing for the birth of her child with renewed support from her family.
“When I joined IPTg, I was broken and had given up on myself. Sharing my story helped me find solutions I never imagined, and today I feel supported and hopeful again.” Cissy, CLHIV
Why it matters: Cissy’s story shows how IPT-G supports young people emotionally and also strengthens family involvement, leading to better health, treatment adherence and wellbeing.
I felt alone in HIV: Mercy finds her voice again
Mercy is 16 and lives in Bugiri District. She was born with HIV and has taken antiretroviral medication since childhood. As she grew older and understood her status, she was overwhelmed by hopelessness and shame. She withdrew from her friends, attended school irregularly and lost interest in her studies. For more than two years she resisted treatment despite her mother’s pleas, and her viral load kept rising. She blamed herself and her mother and felt there was no answer to the question “Why me?”
A turning point came when Mr. Hiire, an IPT-G facilitator, visited their home. He talked about mental health, explained the signs and symptoms of depression and introduced Mercy to the MUCOBADI IPT-G group. Although shy at first, she decided to join. Week after week the group became a safe place to listen, learn and eventually share. Hearing other young people speak openly about living with HIV helped her see that she was not alone.
Today Mercy takes her medication willingly and even reminds her mother when it is time to collect drugs from the health facility. She has regained her confidence, interacts freely with others, and her viral load is well suppressed.
“Before joining IPTg, I thought my life was over. I hated myself and even blamed my mother. Through the group, I discovered that I am not alone. I now have hope, I take my medicine willingly, and I believe I have a future.” Mercy, CLHIV
Why it matters: Mercy’s story shows how integrating mental health support with HIV care addresses depression, self-stigma and isolation, and leads to better adherence and viral suppression.
Keeping hope alive: how IPT-G prevented a student from dropping out
Mwajuma is a 16-year-old Senior Three student at Bukooli College. After the death of her father, the family’s sole breadwinner, she carried both grief and the constant fear of being sent home for unpaid school fees. This threatened her mental wellbeing and her education.
Following a school mental health sensitisation session led by teacher Mr. Oswana Brian, Mwajuma agreed to be screened for depression and was enrolled in the White Angels IPT-G group. In the group she found a safe space to express her grief and receive encouragement from her peers. The group helped her identify practical steps, including approaching the school administration to explain her financial situation, and encouraged her to stay socially connected.
The school awarded Mwajuma a scholarship. Together with the emotional support from the group, this significantly reduced her depression, restored her confidence and renewed her hope for the future.
“After my father died, every time students were sent home for school fees, I felt like my education was coming to an end. Joining the IPTg group gave me people who listened to me and helped me find solutions. Today, I have a scholarship, my depression has reduced, and I can continue with my studies. I now believe I have a future again.” Mwajuma, Senior 3 student
Why it matters: IPT-G addresses both the psychological and the practical barriers that put vulnerable learners at risk of dropping out.
Teacher Sinani, Naminyagwe Primary School
Before IPT-G, some pupils struggled with challenges that affected their attendance, participation and ability to stay in school. Many of these issues stayed hidden because learners had no safe space to speak. Through IPT-G training, Teacher Sinani and his colleagues developed new skills and shifted their focus from academic performance alone to the emotional and social challenges behind pupils’ behaviour and attendance. Teachers now follow up when a pupil drops out, find out why and help them return to school.
“Since we started IPTg sessions, we have seen a great reduction in absenteeism and school dropout. Pupils are now more open with us and freely share the challenges they are facing.”
“The teacher training changed our mindset. We now look beyond what we see in class and try to understand what a child is going through.” Teacher Sinani
Why it matters: IPT-G improves learners’ mental wellbeing, strengthens teacher-pupil relationships, creates supportive learning environments and helps vulnerable children stay engaged in education.
Voices from Schools:
Passy, 16, Buluguyi Seed Secondary School
“The IPTg sessions helped me cope with the challenges I was facing and overcome my depression. As a result, my academic performance has greatly improved. I no longer miss school or arrive late, and my relationship with my teachers has become much better. I now feel more confident, motivated, and able to focus on my studies.”
Teacher Beatrice, St. Stephen Secondary School
“The mental health training and IPTg sessions have significantly strengthened the relationship between teachers and students. Students now see us as trusted facilitators and feel comfortable approaching us to discuss personal challenges. We have also observed notable improvements in the academic performance, attendance, and overall well-being of students who participated in the IPTg sessions.”
This Theirworld Innovation-supported project is making significant strides in integrating mental health into health and education services in Uganda, improving treatment adherence, school retention and the wellbeing of adolescents and young people.
