# Shamiri ![Shamiri](/sites/g/files/omnuum9551/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/2026-07/shamiri-wordmark.png?itok=2cFhN8ia) ## expand\_more **Shamiri** is Africa's largest youth mental health provider, having served 250,000+ youth to date. They are reimagining what mental health care should look like—accessible, affordable, community-embedded, and built for scale from day one. In addition to clinical services, Shamiri conducts extensive clinical science research that establishes effectiveness and learns from real-world delivery to scale care with fidelity, rigor, and continuous improvement. See recent publications at the bottom of this page. John Weisz, Tom Osborn (Shamiri Co-Founder and CEO), and Katherine Venturo-Conerly (Shamiri Co-Founder and Scientific Director) of the Lab for Youth Mental Health launched Shamiri in 2019. See Shamiri's growth since then by accessing the link below. [ arrow\_forward Shamiri Website ](https://www.shamiri.co/about) Shamiri's **"for-youth-by-youth"** approach expands the provider pool through task-shifting, emphasizes brief and effective strengths-based interventions, and brings care into communities where young people are. Young people (ages 18-24) deliver group sessions, supervised by semi-professionals, with psychologists and psychiatrists handling escalated care. Their model is one of the world's most **cost-effective** youth mental health models at just $7-10 per youth—over 20 times cheaper than traditional therapy. Their **technology platform** (shamiriOS, shamiriAI, Rafi) enables scale while maintaining quality through AI-supported supervision and data-driven improvements. ## Hear from Youths ## Hear from Teachers ## Hear from Fellows ### Impact Dashboard Since 2021, Shamiri has served 250,000+ young people. Their goal is to serve 10 million young people by 2031. Want to stay up to date? Check out Shamiri's [**Impact Dashboard**](https://www.shamiri.co/impact/dashboard) to see all youths served, providers trained, schools reached, and sessions held! ![Shamiri](/sites/g/files/omnuum9551/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-08/shamiri%20team.png?itok=PWjdTbdY) ## References Alemu, R. E. G., Nyatete, H., Baseke, R., Ngatia, V., Osborn, T. L., & Wasanga, C. M. (2023). Group-based psychoeducational workshop for parents in Kenya: Findings from a pilot study. *Frontiers in Public Health*, *11*, 1223804. Alemu, R. E. G., Osborn, T. L., & Wasanga, C. M. (2023). The network approach: A path to decolonize mental health care. *Frontiers in Public Health*, *11*, 1052077. Campbell, S., & Osborn, T. L. (2021). Adolescent psychopathology and psychological wellbeing: A network analysis approach. *BMC Psychiatry*, *21*(1), 333. Jakobsson, C. E., Johnson, N. E., Ochuku, B., Baseke, R., Wong, E., Musyimi, C. W., Ndetei, D. M., & Venturo-Conerly, K. E. (2024). Meta-Analysis: Prevalence of Youth Mental Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa. *Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health*, *11*, e109. Johnson, N. E., Nerima, D., Kahura, N., & Osborn, T. L. (2023). Psychometric properties of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II among Kenyan adolescents. *Frontiers in Sociology*, *8*, 1189915. Kacmarek, C. N., Johnson, N. E., Osborn, T. L., Wasanga, C., Weisz, J. R., & Yates, B. T. (2023). Costs and cost-effectiveness of Shamiri, a brief, layperson-delivered intervention for Kenyan adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. *BMC Health Services Research*, *23*(1), 827. Kahi, S., Memba, L., Syan, A., Ngatia, V., Venturo-Conerly, K., Wasanga, C., & Osborn, T. L. (2025). Implementation of a school-based risk management protocol within a task-shifted mental healthcare model. *Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health*, *12*, e127. Kumar, M., Osborn, T. L., Mugo, C., Akbarialiabad, H., Warfa, O., Mbuthia, W. M., Wambugu, C., Ngunu, C., Gohar, F., Mwaniga, S., Njuguna, S., & Saxena, S. (2021). A Four-Component Framework Toward Patient-Centered, Integrated Mental Healthcare in Kenya. *Frontiers in Public Health*, *9*, 756861. Lilan, S., Mochama, B., Osborn, T., Mmbone, W., Kilonzo, R., Kamau, F., Daya, R., & Wasanga, C. (2026a). Automated Fidelity Monitoring of Lay-Delivered Mental Health Interventions Using Large Language Models: Development and Pilot Validation of shamiriAI in Kenya. *JMIR AI*, *5*, e95063–e95063. Mutiso, V. N., Ndetei, D. M., N.Muia, E., Musyimi, C., Osborn, T. L., Kasike, R., Onsinyo, L., Mbijjiwe, J., Karambu, P., Sounders, A., Weisz, J. R., Swahn, M. H., & Mamah, D. (2022). Prevalence and perception of substance abuse and associated economic indicators and mental health disorders in a large cohort of Kenyan students: Towards integrated public health approach and clinical management. *BMC Psychiatry*, *22*(1), 191. Ndetei, D. M., Mutiso, V. N., Weisz, J. R., Okoth, C. A., Musyimi, C., Muia, E. N., Osborn, T. L., Sourander, A., Wasserman, D., & Mamah, D. (2022). Socio-demographic, economic and mental health problems were risk factors for suicidal ideation among Kenyan students aged 15 plus. *Journal of Affective Disorders*, *302*, 74–82. Ndetei, D., Wasserman, D., Mutiso, V., Bhui, K., Shanley, J., Musyimi, C., Winter, S., Nyamai, P., Walusaka, S., Onyango, V., Jeremiah, E., Osborn, T. L., Swahn, M., Sourander, A., & Mamah, D. (2026). Toward integrating clinical and non-clinical associates of suicidality to inform potential intervention points among youth in Nairobi metropolitan, Kenya. *Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health*, *13*, e33. Ochuku, B., Osborn, T. L., Nerima, D., Van Der Markt, A., Rusch, T., Omune, H., Akello, S., Ndetei, D. M., & Venturo-Conerly, K. E. (2023). Testing pathways to scale: Study protocol for a three-arm randomized controlled trial of a centralized and a decentralized (“Train the Trainers”) dissemination of a mental health program for Kenyan adolescents. *Trials*, *24*(1), 526. Osborn, T. L., Kleinman, A., & Weisz, J. R. (2021). Complementing standard western measures of depression with locally co-developed instruments: A cross-cultural study on the experience of depression among the Luo in Kenya. *Transcultural Psychiatry*, *58*(4), 499–515. Osborn, T. L., Ndetei, D. M., Sacco, P. L., Mutiso, V., & Sommer, D. (2023). An arts-literacy intervention for adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms: Outcomes of a randomised controlled trial of Pre-Texts with Kenyan adolescents. *eClinicalMedicine*, *66*, 102288. Osborn, T. L., Rodriguez, M., Wasil, A. R., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Gan, J., Alemu, R. G., Roe, E., Arango G., S., Otieno, B. H., Wasanga, C. M., Shingleton, R., & Weisz, J. R. (2020). Single-session digital intervention for adolescent depression, anxiety, and well-being: Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial with Kenyan adolescents. *Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology*, *88*(7), 657–668. Osborn, T. L., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Arango G., S., Roe, E., Rodriguez, M., Alemu, R. G., Gan, J., Wasil, A. R., Otieno, B. H., Rusch, T., Ndetei, D. M., Wasanga, C., Schleider, J. L., & Weisz, J. R. (2021a). Effect of Shamiri Layperson-Provided Intervention vs Study Skills Control Intervention for Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents in Kenya: A Randomized Clinical Trial. *JAMA Psychiatry*, *78*(8), 829. Osborn, T. L., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Gan, J. Y., Rodriguez, M., Alemu, R. G., Roe, E., Arango, S. G., Wasil, A. R., Campbell, S., Weisz, J. R., & Wasanga, C. M. (2022). Depression and anxiety symptoms amongst kenyan adolescents: Psychometric Properties, Prevalence Rates and Associations with Psychosocial Wellbeing and Sociodemographic factors. *Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology*, *50*(11), 1471–1485. Osborn, T. L., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Wasil, A. R., Rodriguez, M., Roe, E., Alemu, R., Arango G., S., Gan, J., Wasanga, C., Schleider, J. L., & Weisz, J. R. (2020). The Shamiri group intervention for adolescent anxiety and depression: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a lay-provider-delivered, school-based intervention in Kenya. *Trials*, *21*(1), 938. Osborn, T. L., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Wasil, A. R., Schleider, J. L., & Weisz, J. R. (2020). Depression and Anxiety Symptoms, Social Support, and Demographic Factors Among Kenyan High School Students. *Journal of Child and Family Studies*, *29*(5), 1432–1443. Osborn, T. L., Wasil, A. R., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Schleider, J. L., & Weisz, J. R. (2020). Group Intervention for Adolescent Anxiety and Depression: Outcomes of a Randomized Trial with Adolescents in Kenya. *Behavior Therapy*, *51*(4), 601–615. Osborn, T. L., Wasil, A. R., Weisz, J. R., Kleinman, A., & Ndetei, D. M. (2020). Where is the global in global mental health? A call for inclusive multicultural collaboration. *General Psychiatry*, *33*(6), e100351. Rugendo, E., Lyimo, G. S., Daya, R., Githinji, M., Kashamba, K., Njoki, F., Yusufu, I., Osborn, T., Chase, R. P., Sando, M., Nyundo, A., Bärnighausen, T., Reininghaus, U., McMahon, S. A., & Reinhold, A. S. (2025). Efficacy and acceptability of a blended intervention for emotion regulation (MAISHA) among young people in Kenya: Study protocol for a cluster RCT. *BMC Psychology*, *14*(1), 114. Shamiri Institute, Africa Institute for Mental and Brain Health (AfriMeb) (2025). Adolescent Mental Health in Kenya: Evidence, Challenges, and Policy Solutions. Shamiri Institute, Africa Institute for Mental and Brain Health (AfriMeb) (2025). Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Kenya's Childhood Adversity Crisis to Protect Our Youth and Future. Shamiri Institute, Africa Institute for Mental and Brain Health (AfriMeb) (2025). Strengthening Adolescent Mental Health in Kenya. Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Johnson, N. E., Osborn, T. L., Puffer, E. S., Rusch, T., Ndetei, D. M., Wasanga, C. M., Mutiso, V., Musyimi, C., & Weisz, J. R. (2022). Long-term health outcomes of adolescent character strength interventions: 3- to 4-year outcomes of three randomized controlled trials of the Shamiri program. *Trials*, *23*(1), 443. Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Osborn, T. L., Alemu, R., Roe, E., Rodriguez, M., Gan, J., Arango, S., Wasil, A., Wasanga, C., & Weisz, J. R. (2022). Single-session interventions for adolescent anxiety and depression symptoms in Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. *Behaviour Research and Therapy*, *151*, 104040. Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Osborn, T. L., Rusch, T., Ochuku, B. K., Johnson, N. E., van der Markt, A., Wasanga, C. M., & Weisz, J. R. (2025). Testing the Shamiri Intervention and Its Components With Kenyan Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Outcomes of a Universal, 5-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial. *Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry*, *64*(7), 786–798. Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Osborn, T. L., Wasil, A. R., Le, H., Corrigan, E., Wasanga, C., & Weisz, J. R. (2021). Testing the effects of the Shamiri Intervention and its components on anxiety, depression, wellbeing, and academic functioning in Kenyan adolescents: Study protocol for a five-arm randomized controlled trial. *Trials*, *22*(1), 829. Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Wasil, A. R., Osborn, T. L., Puffer, E. S., Weisz, J. R., & Wasanga, C. M. (2022). Designing Culturally and Contextually Sensitive Protocols for Suicide Risk in Global Mental Health: Lessons From Research With Adolescents in Kenya. *Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry*, *61*(9), 1074–1077. Venturo-Conerly, K., Osborn, T. L., Puffer, E. S., Weisz, J., & Van Der Markt, A. (2023). RE: Do no harm: can school mental health interventions cause iatrogenic harm? *BJPsych Bulletin*, *47*(5), 300–301. Venturo-Conerly, K., Roe, E., Wasil, A., Osborn, T., Ndetei, D., Musyimi, C., Mutiso, V., Wasanga, C., & Weisz, J. R. (2022). Training and Supervising Lay Providers in Kenya: Strategies and Mixed-Methods Outcomes☆☆☆. *Cognitive and Behavioral Practice*, *29*(3), 666–681. Wasil, A. R., Gillespie, S., Park, S. J., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Osborn, T. L., DeRubeis, R. J., Weisz, J. R., & Jones, P. J. (2021). Which symptoms of depression and anxiety are most strongly associated with happiness? A network analysis of Indian and Kenyan adolescents. *Journal of Affective Disorders*, *295*, 811–821. Wasil, A. R., Kacmarek, C. N., Osborn, T. L., Palermo, E. H., DeRubeis, R. J., Weisz, J. R., & Yates, B. T. (2021). Economic evaluation of an online single-session intervention for depression in Kenyan adolescents. *Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology*, *89*(8), 657–667. Wasil, A. R., Osborn, T. L., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Wasanga, C., & Weisz, J. R. (2021). Conducting global mental health research: Lessons learned from Kenya. *Global Mental Health*, *8*, e8. Wasil, A. R., Osborn, T. L., Weisz, J. R., & DeRubeis, R. J. (2021). Online single‐session interventions for Kenyan adolescents: Study protocol for a comparative effectiveness randomised controlled trial. *General Psychiatry*, *34*(3), e100446. ## Join the Movement! Interested in partnering? Shamiri works with governments, foundations, corporations, and researchers to scale youth mental health across Africa and the Global South. Contact the Shamiri team at