Family Mental Health

In the first three months of 2026, your support translated into real change — for a mother sitting anxiously in an antenatal waiting room, for a family quietly carrying the weight of mental illness, for a community learning that seeking help is an act of strength, not weakness.

This report captures what we accomplished together: 767 people educated on mental health, 150 expectant mothers given a safe space to voice their fears, 223 individuals and families supported through therapy, and a landmark research trial that puts evidence-based perinatal mental healthcare firmly on Zimbabwe's health agenda.

A Historic Milestone: The SPANS Family and Child health block.

On 27 March 2026, SPANS hosted the official groundbreaking ceremony for the SPANS Wellness Centre at Ruwa Clinic. The occasion was graced by distinguished guests who lent their voices to a vision that is now becoming a reality.

. The event was graced by representatives from Lions Club zimbabwe, Dr Zvavamwe the district’s Medical Officer who was represented by Dr munyanyi, District Governor Lion Bothwell Nyajeka, DNO Sr Mutsambi, Mr Mushonga the Administrator who was representing the Goromonzi District Council. The ceremony marked the beginning of a renewed commitment to health, dignity, and future of families and children in the community. This is in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) 2026-2030, following its pillars inclusive of macro economic stability, infrastructure development  and digital transformation. The block is all about access to quality healthcare for mothers, newborns and children. Our focus begins with pregnant women because we understand that whatever affects the mother can also directly impact the child. Our dignitaries shared valuable speeches that spoke a lot about perinatal mental health and how it is important for the whole community to come together for mothers and their children.

The SPANS Wellness Centre will house dedicated spaces for therapy, health education, maternal support, and community wellness. It will be a place where families come not because something has gone wrong — but because they know they deserve support.

We are inviting partners to invest in the completion of this centre. Every contribution — large or small — brings us closer to a facility that will serve thousands of families for decades to come.

Support Group for Expectant Mothers

Picture this: a woman arrives alone at a busy hospital for her antenatal scan. She sits in a crowded waiting room, not knowing what the scan will reveal. There is no one beside her to hold her hand — no one to explain what the results might mean, or to simply say, "You are not alone."

SPANS identified this gap and created something powerful: every Thursday, we transform the waiting room into a circle of support. Our team provides emotional and psychosocial care to expectant mothers before they enter the scan room, creating a calm, friendly environment where women can voice their fears and receive honest, compassionate guidance.

For many, it was the first time anyone had asked how they were feeling — not just how the pregnancy was progressing, but how they were doing as a person. That distinction matters more than words can convey.

  Landmark Research: Evidence-Based Perinatal Mental Healthcare.

SPANS received ethics approval (MRCZ/A/3375) for a landmark study: a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial examining the effectiveness of Systemic Family Therapy for women with perinatal mental disorders in Zimbabwe.

 Individual & Family Therapy

Therapy is where transformation happens at the deepest level ,ccxwhere individuals and families process pain, rebuild trust, and develop the tools to face life's challenges. This quarter, 223 clients received therapy at SPANS, presenting primarily with infidelity, marital conflict, and family relationship breakdowns

Closing the Gender Gap in Therapy

While we celebrate progress in health education, we acknowledge a challenge in therapy: male engagement declined this quarter. Our analysis points to two root causes: deep-seated societal stigma that equates emotional expression with weakness, and practical scheduling barriers  many men cannot access therapy during standard office hours.

SPANS is actively designing solutions  including extended hours and community-based outreach  to ensure that men can access support without compromising their dignity or their schedules. Donor support for this initiative would be transformative.

None of this is possible without partners like you. We invite you to read on and to see yourself in every number, every story, every life touched.

With gratitude,

The SPANS Team

• Detailed report (PDF)