Mental Health as Mission:
A Call to the Global Church
to Care
Since 1990, Oasis Africa has trained lay Christian counsellors who serve in churches and communities across East Africa and beyond: offering encouragement, grief support, youth mentorship, and marriage guidance. Many of Kenya's professional psychologists began their careers through this programme. Lay counselling doesn't just meet immediate needs. It builds long-term capacity for care across the continent.
The same capacity-building methodology that powers our church programmes now drives our corporate wellness and EAP services. The principle is identical: equip the people closest to the need with the skills to respond.
THE CASE FOR TASK SHIFTING
Why The Church Must Lead
970M
people worldwide live with a mental health condition (WHO).
<3
mental health professionals per 100,000 people in
sub-Saharan Africa.
75-95%
of people with mental health needs in Africa cannot access professional services.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in eight people worldwide live with a mental health condition. Depression is a leading cause of disability globally, and more than 700,000 people die by suicide each year.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the situation is compounded by a severe shortage of professionals, limited insurance coverage, and cultural stigma that delays help-seeking. Even clergy often struggle in silence, sometimes interpreting mental health challenges as spiritual weakness rather than recognising them as conditions that respond to structured support.
Task shifting addresses these gaps by equipping non-specialists to deliver basic psychological support. At Oasis Africa, laypeople are trained to offer Level 1 care as encouragers, reflecting the biblical call to "bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2). With clinical supervision and ongoing education, these teams provide accessible, community-based care through a structured referral system that connects to OAW's professional clinicians when deeper support is needed.
THE CHURCH'S UNIQUE POSITION
The church is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. As a trusted institution present in every community, it can promote awareness, reduce stigma, and create safe spaces for open conversation. Church leaders and members can be trained to recognise signs of distress, provide basic psychosocial support, and refer individuals to professional care when necessary.
Integrating spiritual care with psychological support enables a holistic approach that fosters healing, resilience, and acceptance. Congregations often include individuals with some background in social work or community health who can coordinate teams of trained volunteers, creating sustainable support structures within existing church systems.
The same model works in workplaces
Task shifting is equally valuable beyond the church. Employers, particularly those with young adults aged 17 to 35, can integrate peer support into wellness programmes. This group represents a significant share of clients at Oasis Africa and often faces stress, burnout, relationship challenges, and financial pressures. Organisational changes such as restructuring or mergers can further heighten emotional strain, underscoring the need for accessible, embedded support systems.
The insight is the same in both settings: when the people closest to the workforce or the congregation are equipped with the right skills, the entire system becomes more resilient.
Trusted, present, and already embedded in communities
OUR PRORAMS
Lay Christian Counsellor Training
Structured training for church leaders and volunteers in psychological first aid, active listening, boundary-setting, small group facilitation, crisis recognition, and referral pathways. Designed to create church-based support networks that sustain beyond any single programme.
Pastoral Family Resilience
Confidential support for pastors' families: individual sessions, psychoeducation workshops for spouses, psychosocial clubs for children, and family resilience retreats. Developed through 30+ years of work with clergy and high-stress occupations.
Community Psychosocial Response
Trauma-informed interventions for communities facing crisis, conflict, or transition. Developed through decades of post-conflict work, including Rwanda, and refined for contemporary contexts across East Africa.
Clinical Supervision & Ongoing Education
Trained lay counsellors receive structured clinical supervision from OAW's team of 25+ licensed practitioners, ensuring quality of care and a clear referral pathway for cases that need professional intervention.
LEADERSHIP
Dr. Gladys K. Mwiti and the Lausanne Movement
Since 2013, Dr. Gladys Mwiti has served as co-chair of the Lausanne Movement's Mental Health and Trauma Division, where she has led the call for the global church to embrace mental health as a core part of its mission. Through training, supervision, and partnerships with Christian psychologists, Oasis Africa continues to equip church-based counsellors to serve effectively, both in person and online.
Task shifting remains a practical and effective strategy for strengthening community mental health, especially in low-resource settings. By empowering communities and engaging the church, it expands access to care, reduces stigma, and supports God's redemptive work of restoring the whole person.
Dr. Mwiti in Conversation
Why Mental Health Matters for the Church and Global Mission
Lausanne Movement Podcast
The Resilience of the African Church (Parts 1 & 2)
On Mission with Chris Wright
GET INVOLVED
For churches, denominations, and community organisations
If you lead a faith community or community organisation and want to build a structured support system for your people, we would welcome a conversation. OAW works with individual churches, denominational networks, pastoral associations, and NGOs across East Africa and internationally.
Contact us to discuss lay counsellor training, pastoral family programmes, or community resilience initiatives.
Email: admin@oasisafrica.co.ke · Phone: +254 725 366 614
How Your Partnership Powers Healing
The Need Is Urgent
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1 in 4 Africans struggle with mental health challenges
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42% of Kenyans visiting health facilities show symptoms of depression
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87% of African managers avoid mental health conversations due to stigma
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75-95% of people with mental health needs in Africa cannot access services
Your Donation Creates Impact
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$50 provides one therapy session for a pastor in crisis
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$150 sponsors a nonprofit staff wellness workshop
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$500 funds a month of supervision for 10 emerging therapists
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$2,500 provides a full scholarship for trauma-informed care certification
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$10,000 establishes an annual pastoral mental health program in one region
Support Community Healing Today
Tax-Deductible Giving (USA Donors)
Make your tax-deductible contribution through our US partner:
Faith and Learning International
P.O. Box 480
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: (630) 221-0648
Faith and Learning International is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation is
tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please designate your gift for
Oasis Africa Community Programs.
Ways To Give
By Check:
Make checks payable to "Faith and Learning International"
Write "Oasis Africa Community Work" in the memo line
Mail to:
Faith and Learning International
P.O. Box 480
Wheaton, IL 60187
By Phone:
Call Faith and Learning International at (630) 221-0648 to make a donation via credit card
Online:
Visit Faith and Learning International's website (https://faithandlearning.org/) and designate your gift for "Oasis Africa Community Programs"
By Wire Transfer:
Contact Faith and Learning International at (630) 221-0648 for wire transfer instructions
Monthly Partnership:
Set up recurring monthly giving by contacting Faith and Learning International at (630) 221-0648 or visiting their website.
Every Gift Matters
Whether you give $25 or $25,000, you're investing in the mental wellness of Africa's most vulnerable populations and the professionals who serve them. You're part of the Ripple Effect.
Partner With Excellence
When you support Oasis Africa's community work, you're investing in:
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Proven Impact: 33 years of measurable outcomes
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Professional Excellence: PhD and Master's level clinicians
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Cultural Competence: African-led, contextually designed programs
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Sustainable Models: Training that multiplies healing capacity
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Financial Accountability: Transparent reporting and stewardship
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International Standards: Cyber-secure, ethically certified, professionally insured
Local Giving
Make your contribution through our Kenyan financial accounts:
Oasis Africa LTD
NCBA Bank, Westlands Branch
Account #: 4267050044
Via Mpesa Till: 823714
Questions?
For Program Information:
Email: admin@oasisafrica.co.ke
Phone: +254 725 366 614
For Donation Questions:
Faith and Learning International
Phone: (630) 221-0648
P.O. Box 480, Wheaton, IL 60187
