The Friendship Bench Documentary Trailer

In 2006, Dr. Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatrist in Zimbabwe, was ordered by the government to deal with the severe mental health crisis afflicting the nation. However, there was literally a handful of psychiatrists in the entire country, which meant searching for a solution beyond conventional medicine. That forced him to consider grandmothers (Gogos) as his only option. Starting with a group of 14 Gogos, he began training them in cognitive therapy to treat depression on public benches.
By creating a narrative tapestry through the stories of the Gogos and the lives of their clients, the film explores Dr. Dixon’s visionary initiative of establishing a Friendship Bench within communities everywhere. His initiative has since expanded throughout Zimbabwe into neighboring countries and beyond to communities all over the world.
The Friendship Bench provides sustainable community based psychological interventions that are evidence based, accessible and scalable.
OUR MISSION: Creating Safe Spaces and a Sense of Belonging in Communities to Enhance Quality of Life
​OUR VISION: A Friendship Bench Within Walking Distance For All
OUR VALUES: Empathy & Connection; Anchored in Research
www.friendshipbenchzimbabwe.org