She Writes Woman
She Writes Woman is a Nigerian nonprofit founded in 2016 that operates Nigeria's first private 24/7 toll-free mental health helpline, free teletherapy, and a digital community, serving individuals with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities across all 36 Nigerian states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAbuja, Nigeria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What She Writes Woman does
She Writes Woman is a Nigerian nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by Hauwa Ojeifo in Abuja, following her personal diagnosis of bipolar disorder and PTSD. Operating as Nigeria's first and largest mental health first response organization, it delivers a trifecta of free mental health services: a 24/7 toll-free helpline (0800 800 2000) launched in October 2020, free and unlimited teletherapy sessions booked via Calendly, and a digital community platform (previously accelerated by Facebook and supported by the Dovetail Foundation). The organization has recorded over 25,000 mental health interventions across all 36 Nigerian states, supported 40,000+ Nigerians with mental health information, and reports averting 200+ potential suicides through its helpline interventions.
The organization's underlying technology stack is intentionally lean and human-centered: a toll-free telephony infrastructure with trained counselors delivering psychological first aid, empathetic listening, crisis intervention, and referrals; Calendly for teletherapy scheduling; Flutterwave for donation processing; and a digital community platform providing support groups. Notably, 55% of helpline callers have reported suicidal thoughts, underscoring the high-acuity, crisis-driven nature of demand. Beyond direct service delivery, She Writes Woman runs rights-based advocacy, capacity building for advocates across all 6 geopolitical zones (approximately 200 advocates), and research and reporting — including a 10-Year Impact Report launched in April 2026 representing Nigeria's largest mental health first response dataset.
As a nonprofit, She Writes Woman operates on a fully donor-funded model with all services provided free of charge. Revenue is sourced from grants and donations via a diversified partner base including Disability Rights Fund, African Women's Development Fund, Airtel Nigeria, AstraZeneca Young Health Programme, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Goalkeepers Award), Human Rights Watch (Marca Bristo Fellowship), and corporate partners including Nigerian Breweries Plc. The organization serves Nigerians experiencing mental health distress, people with psychosocial disabilities, survivors of sexual violence, and the general population during periods of national crisis. Its go-to-market is community-led, direct-to-consumer, and event-driven, combining self-serve helpline/teletherapy access with high-profile international advocacy at forums including the United Nations Conference of States Parties and the Global Mental Health Forum.
She Writes Woman firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- She Writes Woman
- Legal name
- She Writes Woman Mental Health Initiative
- Website
- https://shewriteswoman.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- She Writes Woman is a Nigerian nonprofit founded in 2016 that operates Nigeria's first private 24/7 toll-free mental health helpline, free teletherapy, and a digital community, serving individuals with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities across all 36 Nigerian states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
She Writes Woman industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (62133), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where She Writes Woman is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Abuja
- HQ country
- Nigeria
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
She Writes Woman business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donor Funding / Grants: She Writes Woman is a nonprofit organization that relies entirely on donor funding and grants to provide free mental health services. The organization explicitly states that its helpline and teletherapy services are fully donor-funded.
- Donations: Individual and organizational donations support the organization's operations. The organization accepts donations through Flutterwave.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free 24/7 Toll-Free Helpline - No cost access to mental health support |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Teletherapy - No cost access to therapeutic sessions |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Community Access - Free community engagement platform |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
She Writes Woman product offering
Product offeringCore offering
She Writes Woman operates Nigeria's first private 24/7 toll-free mental health helpline (0800 800 2000) and provides free unlimited teletherapy sessions, a digital community, and support groups to Nigerians across all 36 states. The organization complements these direct services with rights-based advocacy, capacity building for advocates, and research & reporting to advance the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities. All services are provided free of charge and are fully funded by donations and grants.
Product overview
She Writes Woman operates a unified mental health support ecosystem consisting of three core service pillars: a 24/7 toll-free helpline (0800 800 2000), free unlimited teletherapy, and a digital community with support groups. These direct services are complemented by rights-based advocacy, capacity building programs, and research and reporting initiatives. The organisation also publishes a 10-Year Impact Report documenting mental health data across Nigeria.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 24/7 Toll-Free Mental Health Helpline A 24/7 toll-free helpline (0800 800 2000) requiring no call credit, accessible to anyone in Nigeria at any time. Trained counselors provide psychological first aid, empathetic listening, crisis intervention, and referrals to mental health professionals. The service is disability-inclusive, faith-sensitive, and multilingual, designed for individual Nigerians in mental health distress.
- Teletherapy Free and unlimited teletherapy sessions enabling Nigerians to access quality mental health care from qualified mental health professionals via phone or video, irrespective of location. Sessions are booked via Calendly.
- Digital Community An online community providing accurate knowledge and information about mental health along with opportunities for engagement for mental health enthusiasts and people living with mental health conditions in Nigeria.
- Safe Place Nigeria Support Groups and Walk-In Centre In-person and virtual support groups and a walk-in centre providing safe spaces and peer support for people with lived mental health experience. The walk-in centre operates in partnership with Airtel Nigeria.
- Rights-Based Advocacy Advocacy initiatives that advance the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities in Nigeria through legislative and policy influence, an MoU with the National Human Rights Commission, and engagement with the National Assembly.
- Capacity Building Programs Training programs that empower persons with psychosocial disabilities and advocates with strategic advocacy skills and practical knowledge in international human rights treaties and conventions, supporting a network of approximately 200 advocates across all 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
- Research and Reporting Research documenting the lived experiences of people with mental health conditions in Nigeria, including human rights abuses in psychiatric facilities, informing global decision-making and providing evidence for legislative and policy influence.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25,000+ mental health interventions over 10 years
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use She Writes Woman
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
She Writes Woman technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
She Writes Woman partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Airtel NigeriacoreAirtel Nigeria partnered with SWW to launch the Safe Place Walk-In Centre in 2018, which recorded over 100 walk-ins within its first year. Airtel provides corporate support for mental health services.
- Human Rights WatchcoreHuman Rights Watch honored Hauwa Ojeifo as the inaugural Marca Bristo Fellow in 2020 for her work in advancing disability rights. The organization supports SWW's advocacy work through fellowship programs and recognition.
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)coreIn May 2024, SWW officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NHRC to advance the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities in Nigeria.
- National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD)coreSWW convened with NCPWD for the first-ever high-level roundtable on rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities in May 2022. This led to NCPWD committing to create and budget for a psychosocial disabilities desk, fulfilled by 2023.
- Viacom Africa / MTVminorViacom Africa and MTV have featured SWW and Hauwa Ojeifo, contributing to visibility and recognition through the Generation Change award platform.
- One Young WorldminorHauwa Ojeifo serves as an AstraZeneca One Young World Ambassador. She gave remarks on mental health and sexual violence at the One Young World summit in The Hague, Netherlands.
- AstraZeneca YHPminorAstraZeneca Young Health Programme supports SWW through the One Young World ambassador program, providing platform for Hauwa Ojeifo's advocacy work.
- Connected DevelopmentminorConnected Development funds Safe Place Nigeria, supporting community-based mental health support initiatives.
- RISE Now USminorRISE Now US organised the first-ever United Nations Sexual Violence Survivors Townhall. Hauwa Ojeifo, as part of the Sister Survivors network, gave remarks on sexual violence issues.
- DEW CentreminorDEW Centre supports She Writes Woman's mental health and disability rights initiatives.
- Inspired Women of Worth (IWOW)minorIWOW supports SWW's mental health initiatives and advocacy work in Nigeria.
- National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)minorNILDS collaborates with SWW on legislative and policy influence initiatives related to mental health rights.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
She Writes Woman competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BetterHelp: Global commercial teletherapy platform connecting users to licensed therapists via video, phone, and chat. Provides a paid, scaled version of SWW's free teletherapy service; representative of the commercial category SWW could face if/when paid mental health platforms expand into Nigeria.
- Talkspace: US-listed commercial teletherapy platform offering individual, couples, and teen therapy with licensed clinicians. Comparable to SWW's teletherapy offering in delivery channel but operates in the for-profit, employer/payer-funded segment SWW serves via donations.
- Headspace Health: Global mental wellness platform combining guided content, meditation, and (via Ginger) on-demand therapy. Overlaps with SWW's digital community and self-help resources but operates as a scaled B2C/B2B commercial product rather than a donor-funded nonprofit.
Direct peers
- Mind (UK): UK-based mental health charity providing information, helpline-style support, community programs, and rights-based advocacy. Comparable to SWW as a nonprofit mental health movement combining direct services, advocacy, and lived-experience leadership at national scale.
- Samaritans (UK): UK charity operating a 24/7 emotional support helpline staffed by trained volunteers offering empathetic listening and crisis intervention. Closest functional analog to SWW's helpline-first, listener-led model, with similar reliance on trained (non-clinical) volunteers and free access.
- African Mental Health Foundation: Pan-African nonprofit focused on mental health awareness, research, and advocacy across the continent. Comparable to SWW in mission and African geographic focus, with broader continental scope versus SWW's Nigeria-centric depth.
- iCall (TISS Mumbai): India-based psychosocial helpline and counseling service operated by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, offering free telephone and email counseling. Functionally parallel to SWW in delivering free, multilingual, counselor-staffed mental health support in a high-need emerging market.
- Asido Foundation: Nigerian mental health advocacy and support nonprofit promoting awareness and de-stigmatization. Closely comparable to SWW as a domestic peer competing for donor funding, advocacy influence, and the same population of Nigerians living with mental health conditions.
- Lifeline Australia: Australia's flagship 24/7 crisis support helpline providing crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and referrals. Direct functional parallel to SWW's 0800 800 2000 helpline in service model, acuity handling, and national-reach ambition.
- Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI): Nigerian mental health nonprofit providing awareness, support, and advocacy for mental health conditions. Most direct domestic peer to SWW in mission, geography, and nonprofit structure; competes for the same donor pool and policy influence.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
She Writes Woman social profiles
Digital presenceShe Writes Woman compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
She Writes Woman financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
She Writes Woman leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
She Writes Woman funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
She Writes Woman M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about She Writes Woman
What does She Writes Woman do?
She Writes Woman operates Nigeria's first private 24/7 toll-free mental health helpline (0800 800 2000) and provides free unlimited teletherapy sessions, a digital community, and support groups to Nigerians across all 36 states. The organization complements these direct services with rights-based advocacy, capacity building for advocates, and research & reporting to advance the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities. All services are provided free of charge and are fully funded by donations and grants.
Is She Writes Woman a public or private company?
She Writes Woman is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was She Writes Woman founded?
She Writes Woman was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is She Writes Woman based?
She Writes Woman is headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, in the Africa region.
How does She Writes Woman make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donor Funding / Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are She Writes Woman's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BetterHelp, Talkspace and Headspace Health. Direct peers are Mind (UK), Samaritans (UK), African Mental Health Foundation, iCall (TISS Mumbai), Asido Foundation, Lifeline Australia and Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI).
Does She Writes Woman have an API?
No public API is recorded for She Writes Woman.
What industry is She Writes Woman in?
She Writes Woman's product category is Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAD, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAH, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62133 and its SIC code is 8300.