A revolutionary mental health program that began with fourteen grandmothers in Zimbabwe is crossing continents to reach the United Kingdom this summer. The Friendship Bench project trains community elders to provide free therapy sessions on simple wooden park benches, creating safe spaces for people struggling with depression and anxiety. What started as a solution to Zimbabwe’s severe shortage of mental health professionals has now reached over 280,000 people across multiple countries since launching in 2007.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School will launch the first UK pilot next month, initially focusing on migrant groups and minority ethnic communities who often face barriers to traditional mental health services. The approach is beautifully simple yet profound—trained lay counselors sit with clients on benches under trees, offering compassionate listening and evidence based problem-solving therapy in community settings. Research shows the intervention is remarkably effective, with participants three times more likely to maintain better mental health outcomes compared to standard care. This grandmother-led revolution proves that sometimes the most powerful solutions come from the wisdom of those who understand life’s struggles and the healing power of human connection.