Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative

What Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative does

Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI) is a Nigerian non-governmental organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Abuja, focused on mental health advocacy, psychosocial support, and policy reform. The organization delivers services through a community-led model that combines direct outreach, a toll-free helpline (0800MHEICARES), WhatsApp support (+2348034645001), school-based programs, and government partnerships, reaching 80,000+ direct beneficiaries across 13 African member states with a paid team of 11-50 staff and over 500 volunteers organized through 15 Nigerian state chapters. MHEI played a leading role in advocacy that contributed to Nigeria's National Mental Health Act 2021 and has since expanded into continental coordination as convener of the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA). Its core product surface includes mental health support services (counseling, crisis intervention, therapist referrals), self-assessment resources, an online support platform, and the Adolescent Mental Health Handbook mobile application (launched August 2022). The organization is also an active research partner, serving as the Nigerian community partner on the Wellcome Trust-funded R-NEET study (Grant 227913/Z/23/Z) led by the University of Pretoria, which uses API-based health assessments for early screening of youth depression and resilience.

MHEI's business model is that of a grant-funded non-profit. Confirmed funding streams include the Wellcome Trust R-NEET grant, EU/British Council ACT Programme support, and UNODC-funded Drug use Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) sensitization training via European Union funding. Ancillary revenue comes from donations and the sale of mental health books and merchandise through the Selar e-commerce platform. All core mental health services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Key partnerships include the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Education, WHO National Mental Health mhGAP committee, University of Pretoria, Pro-Health International, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, and the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, with the founder Dr. Ameh Zion Abba serving as a recognized voice at international forums including the World Health Assembly 2025.

Name

Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative

Legal name

The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative

Website

https://mandatehealthafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Advocacy and Psychosocial Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Child and Youth Services (62411), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAK), Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE)

Keywords

• Mental health advocacy
• Psychosocial support services
• Suicide prevention programs
• Community health outreach
• Mental health policy reform

Headquarters

HQ city

Abuja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Funding: MHEI receives donations from individuals, organizations, and development partners to fund operations, programs, and outreach activities.
2. Merchandise and Book Sales: Sale of mental health books and educational materials through online platforms like Selar, generating revenue while promoting mental health awareness.
3. Grant Funding: Funded by Wellcome Trust for R-NEET project (Grant 227913/Z/23/Z), EU/British Council ACT Programme, and other international development partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MHEI is a mental health-focused non-governmental organization delivering advocacy, training, sensitization, counseling, and psychosocial support services to individuals and communities across Nigeria and Africa. Its direct offerings include counseling and crisis intervention via a toll-free helpline (0800MHEICARES) and WhatsApp, online self-assessment tools, school-based mental health education, and psychosocial support for internally displaced persons in crisis zones. The organization also produces and sells mental health educational products, including the Adolescent Mental Health Handbook Mobile Application and a series of books and merchandise, while running the Wellcome Trust-funded R-NEET research program on youth mental health.

Product overview

The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI) is a mental health-focused NGO offering a portfolio of services centered on advocacy, awareness, and direct support. Core offerings include Mental Health Support Services (counseling, crisis intervention, therapist connections via WhatsApp), Self Assessment Tools, Online Support Platform, and a Toll-Free Helpline (0800MHEICARES). The organization also produces educational products including the Adolescent Mental Health Handbook (published August 2022 as both a physical book and mobile application) and Mental Health Books sold through its Merchandise store. Additionally, MHEI conducts the R-NEET research program focused on youth depression and resilience in partnership with the University of Pretoria and funded by Wellcome Trust.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mental Health Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 80,000+ direct beneficiaries reached across 13 African member states
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MHEI is the Convener of AMHROA, a continental network coordinating mental health reform across 14+ African countries. Jointly organized World Mental Health Day 2025 continental webinar.
• Federal Ministry of Health NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for mental health integration, National Mental Health Act 2021 implementation, and psychosocial support programs. MHEI conducted advocacy visits and participated in policy forums.
• Federal Ministry of Education NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner for National Students-Parents-Teachers Mental Health Roundtable 2025. Working to pilot school-based mental health programs and establish Mental Health Desks in schools.
• University of PretoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead research institution for R-NEET project. MHEI serves as community partner in Nigeria, coordinating youth recruitment and fieldwork in Niger Delta region.
• Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for R-NEET project and mental health sensitization programs in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
• Pro-Health InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner for mental health outreach programs including IDP camp interventions in Abuja and Maiduguri since 2015.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Drug use, Dependency, Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) sensitization training, funded by European Union.
• British Council ACT ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapacity building and organizational development support through ACT Programme, including coaching sessions on governance, strategy, and team dynamics.
• National Psychological Association of NigeriamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 2016 National Psychosocial Support Summit in Abuja, bringing together mental health professionals and stakeholders.
• Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 2019 World Mental Health Day outreach and mental health CSO coalition for advocacy campaigns.
• Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on World Mental Health Day 2019 community outreach and mental health advocacy activities.
• World Health Organization (WHO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHEI participates in WHO National Mental Health mhGAP committee. Partnered on World Health Day 2017 activities and global mental health frameworks.
• United States Embassy NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented at civic engagement platform hosted by US Embassy in collaboration with Cedar Seed Foundation on stigma-free mental health advocacy.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CBM Global Disability Inclusion: Large international NGO working on disability inclusion including psychosocial disability, with country programs across Africa. Comparable on community MHPSS delivery and government advocacy, but operates across disability broadly rather than mental-health-only.
• World Federation for Mental Health: Global mental health umbrella organization coordinating World Mental Health Day and policy advocacy worldwide. MHEI co-organizes WMHD activities and operates at continental level alongside WFMH, making it an adjacent incumbent in the same advocacy space.

Direct peers

• Asido Foundation: Nigeria-based mental health nonprofit focused on advocacy, awareness, and youth-focused programming. Operates in the same Nigerian market with overlapping community outreach and youth mental health mandate as MHEI.
• Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI): Nigeria-based mental health NGO running awareness campaigns, training, and community outreach. MHEI itself lists MANI as a partner in the 2019 World Mental Health Day coalition, and the two operate on directly comparable advocacy/community-education models in the same Nigerian market.
• BasicNeeds: International mental health and development NGO working across multiple low- and middle-income countries on community mental health, psychosocial support, and policy reform. Highly comparable to MHEI on model (community-based MHPSS plus advocacy) and on cross-country African footprint.
• She Writes Woman Mental Health Foundation: Nigerian mental health nonprofit running awareness campaigns and women's mental health programming. Closely comparable peer operating in the same country and segment (advocacy, community education, NGO coalition building).
• StrongMinds: Africa-focused nonprofit delivering low-cost community mental health interventions and therapy, primarily in Uganda and Kenya. Comparable on mission (African community mental health at scale) and on grassroots service delivery, though therapy-led rather than advocacy-led.

Regional players

• African Mental Health Foundation (AMHF): African mental health organization focused on research, policy, and training primarily in Southern Africa. Comparable on continental mental health reform mission and policy advocacy, but with a different regional footprint than MHEI's West/Central African base.

Emerging players

• Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN): Global network curating and scaling mental health innovations in low-resource settings. Adjacent to MHEI as a platform that channels attention and funding to field actors like MHEI; partial overlap on community-based intervention design and African focus.

Others

• Suicide Prevention Research Foundation: U.S.-based suicide prevention organization producing training, resources, and policy guidance. Comparable to MHEI on the suicide-prevention advocacy track, but operates in a very different geography and as a resource/training body rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MandateHealthNG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdzLUvshECtV2CWnO4Q1Uog
• Facebookweb.facebook.com/?_rdc=1&_rdr
• Instagraminstagram.com/mandatehealthng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mandatehealthng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative