HEAL SA: Addressing South Africa's Youth Mental Health Crisis

Mpadi’s work began when she founded Harambe Advisory Services to help tackle Africa’s toughest development issues. Now, with HEAL SA, she’s taking her vision even further in making mental wellness accessible, relatable, and rooted in the lived experiences of Black women and youth. Led by Mpadi, the organization offers free one-on-one therapy, online resources, and community-based support tailored for women and young people.

So far, HEAL SA has reached over 7,900 clients,delivered mental health training to hundreds of learners, offered professional development to educators, conducted workshops for community members, trained mental health support group facilitators, and established 17+ mental health support groups. HEAL’s model addresses trauma head-on, striving to increase well-being at every level—from individual students to the broader community. By equipping teachers and caregivers with the tools to support mental health, they create environments where students can thrive.

HEAL SA delivers care with deep cultural empathy, meeting youth and women where they are. With teletherapy at its core, the model is scalable, accessible, and reaching the most underserved communities. Mpadi knows this isn’t just a South African solution—it’s a global one. That’s why she’s sharing her story, shifting the narrative, and leading the charge for change.