She Knows Best

Uganda is in the middle of a quiet mental health emergency — and it’s hiding behind selfies, brunches, and the phrase “I’m fine.”

In this episode, we dig into the realities of mental health in Uganda, from the alarming statistics to the personal stories that never make the headlines. With fewer than 50 psychiatrists for a population of 45 million, and less than 1% of the health budget allocated to mental health, access to care is almost nonexistent. Meanwhile, suicide rates remain high, stigma keeps conversations underground, and many young people are turning to parties, alcohol, and drugs as coping mechanisms.

In this episode, we dig into the uncomfortable truths of mental health in Uganda:

• With fewer than 50 psychiatrists for 45 million people, access to care is almost nonexistent.
  
• Less than 1% of the national health budget is allocated to mental health.
  
• Suicide rates remain high, stigma keeps conversations underground, and for many young people, parties, alcohol, and drugs have become coping mechanisms.
  

We ask the hard questions:

• Why is mental health still taboo in 2025?
  
• Should it be treated with the same urgency as HIV or malaria?
  
• Is “therapy culture” in Uganda true healing — or a space for unqualified therapists?
  
• Can community-based approaches work where formal systems fail?
  
• And how does Kampala’s nightlife, alcohol use, and “functional alcoholism” reveal the deeper crisis underneath the vibes?

 It’s not therapy, but it might help.

🔗 Sources & References Mentioned

• World Health Organization (WHO) – Uganda Country Mental Health Profile
  
• The Observer  – Link
  
• Angelo Izama, High Times – on alcohol and drug use in Kampala’s youth culture
  

💡 Powered by MindLab

MindLab is a pan-African policy and advocacy lab reimagining mental and social wellbeing as the foundation for Africa’s future. We design frameworks, influence policy, and spark collaborations so Africa’s people are not just productive—but resilient, connected, and flourishing.

💙 Need Support? You Are Not Alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out:

• StrongMinds Uganda
  
• Mental Health Uganda
  
• Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital
  

Talking to someone could make all the difference.

👉🏾 Subscribe & follow us:

• Instagram: @sheknowsbestpod
  
• TikTok: @sheknowsbestpod

This is She Knows Best, for the girls who feel too much, question everything, but keep going anyway.

In our very first episode, we set the record straight on why this podcast exists, who it’s for, and what it’s definitely not. Think of it as a soft landing into the messy, magical, and sometimes maddening realities of being a millennial African woman.

We open with real intros, no LinkedIn bios, just the raw, relatable reasons that brought us to the mic: quiet rage, soft life dreams, and the DMs that made us scream "same, sis."

Then we dive into the heart of this podcast:

This podcast is not therapy… but it might help.

Because sometimes healing sounds like uncomfortable truths and belly laughs in the same breath.

We challenge the most common misconceptions about women like us:

“Wanting more doesn’t mean we hate men.”

“Softness is not weakness.”

“Being single at 30? We’re thriving, not failing.”

“We love our families, and still roll our eyes at their group chat toxicity.”

And finally, we get honest about modern love in Kampala & beyond, from “I’m not ready for a relationship” energy to side-chic economics and the emotional gymnastics of dating while ambitious.

Expect sass, soul, and serious substance , plus a hint of what’s coming next: money, love, identity, and maybe that one episode your mum shouldn’t hear.

Hit play.

Hit subscribe.

Send this to your bestie and your situationship.

Because this… is She Knows Best.

(Or at least, we think we do.)

A podcast by millennial girlies, for millennial girlies, unpacking taboo truths at the intersection of healing, identity, and culture, with sass, soul, and serious substance.She Knows Best is a refreshing, intelligent, and deeply relatable podcast that explores the layered realities of modern African womanhood. Hosted by Afsa and Liz, two dynamic African millennial women from different sectors of culture and public life, the show brings honest, thought-provoking conversations on everything from mental health and identity to relationships, power, and purpose.Each episode offers a mix of lived experience, cultural critique, and candid reflection, unpacking the complex issues that define life for African women today. Whether it's navigating motherhood and ambition, examining gender norms, or exploring faith and emotional wellbeing, She Knows Best invites listeners into conversations that are bold, grounded, and necessary.

This isn't about perfection. It's about perspective, and creating space for clarity, vulnerability, and growth in a rapidly changing world.