What We Believe

What we believe...

We aspire to be the leading provider of mental wellness services in East and Central Africa, focusing on offering emotional support and counselling, marriage and family counseling, addictions and substance abuse support, corporate programs, and workplace support. We believe that all individuals are inherently good and can achieve their full potential with a bit of a psychological nudge. We are guided by the following principles:

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Compassion and Empathy Connect us All!

Compassion is all about wanting to help ease someone else’s pain and making their day a little better. It starts with empathy, which is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and truly feeling what they are going through.

This deep understanding sparks a genuine desire to help and support others. When we act with compassion, we don’t just lighten someone else’s load—we also enrich our own lives, creating a kinder, more connected community. It’s amazing how much a little empathy and compassion can do!

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Imperfections are normal

No one’s perfect, and that’s something we all need to embrace. In our ever-changing world, we’re constantly interacting with people from all kinds of backgrounds, each with their own unique stories and experiences that make them who they are. By accepting ourselves and others just as we are, we create room for growth and a genuine appreciation for the beautiful diversity around us.

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Emotion Regulation

Emotional hypersensitivity means feeling emotions more deeply and being easily influenced by what’s happening around you. This can lead to strong reactions, increased sensitivity to criticism, and intense emotional states that might affect your daily life, sometimes connected to anxiety or mood disorders.

To manage these intense feelings and find your way back to joy, it’s important to seek support and use tools like mindfulness, emotional regulation techniques, and self-care. Not only does mastering these skills improve your personal well-being by fostering calmness, but it also nurtures empathy and helps create a more harmonious society.

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Finding your True North

Personal True North is like your internal compass—it’s what keeps you on track by guiding you with your core values, principles, and goals. It helps you stay true to who you are and what matters most to you, even when life gets tricky. By following your True North, you make choices that align with your true self and stay focused on your personal goals.

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Adopting the Art of Lifelong Learning

Embracing the notion that you might be ignorant isn’t a rare or dreadful insight—it’s a universal reality. Accepting this with good grace and full awareness allows you to approach life with humility and openness. Recognize that we all stumble through life, often making mistakes and holding flawed opinions.

By detaching from your past errors and preconceived notions, you create space for new experiences and continuous learning. In a world with seven billion equally imperfect beings, acknowledging our shared fallibility can lead to greater personal growth and a more open, curious approach to life.

6

Know Thyself

Maturity involves understanding our own irrational tendencies and proactively managing them. It’s crucial to recognize how our quirks or vulnerabilities might impact others and to communicate these potential issues early on, minimizing harm. Just imagine how enlightening such a conversation would be—by openly addressing these aspects, we not only foster deeper connections but also create a supportive environment where mutual understanding and growth can thrive.

A lot of our quirks and challenges can be linked to our early experiences, which shape and influence us in unique ways. This isn’t meant to blame our families or suggest they didn’t try their best—it’s simply a part of the growing process. By recognizing and understanding these formative influences, we can better navigate our personal traits and build more balanced and fulfilling relationships.

7

Finding Hope in Hard Things

Building resilience means facing life’s challenges with a positive attitude and using them as chances to grow. Every difficulty we overcome adds to our wisdom, helping us tackle future problems and support others through their tough times. When we approach adversity with cheerfulness and optimism, we turn despair into strength and resilience.

This positive approach not only boosts our own growth but also lets us guide and encourage others, making our experiences a source of hope and support for those navigating their own challenges.

8

Living a Purposeful Life

Each of us has a unique purpose and plays a role in the grand tapestry of life. As small but vital parts of this remarkable world, it’s important for us to rise to our higher purpose and contribute meaningfully to society and humanity. By embracing our individual paths, expressing our creativity, and making thoughtful contributions, we help weave a richer, more interconnected experience for everyone, enhancing the collective journey of existence.

Becoming emotionally mature involves recognizing our place within the vast universe, where countless individuals navigate their own paths, each contributing uniquely to the tapestry of human experience. By understanding that we are all intertwined in this journey, and possibly connected to a supreme being, we gain a profound sense of unity and purpose. This awareness helps us appreciate the struggles and triumphs of others, fostering empathy and a deeper connection to the collective human spirit. Embracing this perspective can lead to a richer, more compassionate approach to life.

Creating Supportive Work Environments

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At ThinkTube Africa, we’re passionate about making sure mental health is a top priority in the workplace because we know it’s crucial—not just for overall well-being but also for preventing serious issues like suicide. We encourage every business to ask a fundamental question: How does your workplace support your mental health?

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3. Access to Mental Health Tools

Providing mental health resources is key. This might mean offering free access to meditation apps, organizing workshops on stress management, or providing professional counseling. Equipping everyone with the skills to recognize and manage their own mental health, and to support their colleagues, is just as important.

4. Regular, Open Conversations

Having regular check-ins can make a world of difference. These shouldn’t just focus on work but should also offer a space for employees to voice any personal or professional concerns. This open line of communication helps in identifying potential issues early on and addressing them supportively.

5. Encouraging Physical Wellness

Since physical health is so connected to mental health, promoting physical activity can boost mental well-being too. Encouraging staff to engage in physical activities, whether through group sports, subsidized gym memberships, or scheduled stretch breaks, supports overall health.

6. Building an Open Culture

We aim to foster a culture where talking about mental health is as normal as discussing weekend plans. Regular updates about mental health resources, celebrating mental health awareness initiatives, and hosting related events can help break the stigma around discussing mental health.

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7. Listening and Adapting

Lastly, regularly asking for feedback about the mental health support system in place and genuinely using that feedback to make improvements shows a commitment to truly supporting staff.

At ThinkTube Africa, we believe in the power of a workplace that actively supports mental health—it not only saves lives but builds stronger, happier teams. So, how does your workplace support you? Let’s make sure it’s doing all it can to support everyone’s mental well-being.

 Close to Home: My First Test as a Suicide First Aider

I had recently finished my training to become a suicide first aider, a role that both intimidated and scared me. The thought of being someone’s lifeline was daunting—what would I say, and how could I ensure I wouldn’t sound insensitive? I tucked these worries away, hoping to confront them later.

Life proceeded normally until a distressing call came. It was from my cousin, asking if I could look after his daughter for a few days. He didn’t elaborate much, just mentioned that she was unhappy with her living situation and didn’t want to return home. I reached out to her, but our calls kept missing each other until she finally explained her distress the next day. At first, it seemed to me like typical family squabbles that could be resolved. Her father was abroad and due back in a month, so I suggested she wait it out, and I would then help her find a hostel to live in until she completes her degree. Talking to her about her future would help her focus on other things. In my mind, I felt that having a positive outlook about her future would help her take her mind off the issues at home. She agreed to all of it, but then proposed renting a place for her in the meantime, I thought was unnecessary and costly for just a month and so I declined to do so. I spoke to her one more time and suggested she returns back home to which she pleaded, “Please don’t make me go back there!”. I said to her, “I am not making you do anything; I am just suggesting you wait a little while at home.” She didn’t agree with me and said she’ll just stay with a friend until her father returns. I thought it was settled

A few days later, she contacted my children, asking if she could stay with us. I hesitated; during her previous stay with us, I had grown close to her, acting almost as a mother figure, but balancing that with my own children was emotionally taxing. I thought she understood when it was time for her to go back home. We stayed in touch, sharing meals and chatting about life. She always said she preferred staying low-key, a statement I never fully grasped the gravity of until it was too late.

Then came the shocking news from her father, wrapped in a late-night message that she had passed. “She’s gone,” it read. In my confusion, I thought she had just left somewhere. The next morning, her father clarified she had taken her own life. The news devastated me. I felt a deep, confusing mix of shock, guilt, and sorrow. What could I have said to her father? “I’m sorry” seemed so insufficient.

I broke the news to my children. The revelation shattered them; they had been close, sharing countless moments together. In our grief, we gathered photos and memories, pouring over them late into the night, remembering her. The funeral was a blur of tears and whispered regrets. Why did this happen? Could I have prevented it? Was the course I had done any good, because I couldn’t see what was happening? The questions haunted me.

This heartbreaking experience was my first real test as a suicide first aider, and it hit painfully close to home. It taught me the profound impact of truly listening and being present for someone in pain. My niece’s departure was a harsh lesson in the realities of mental struggles, and it reinforced the importance of cherishing every moment with loved ones. Despite the tragedy, I learned to navigate the painful “what ifs” and to accept the harsh reality of death, holding onto the love and lessons she left behind.