Transforming Mental Health Across Latin America

Evidence-based care delivered by communities and local government partners

Transforming Mental Health Across Latin America

Evidence-based care delivered by communities and local government partners

The Need

In Ecuador, nearly three out of four people struggling with mental health receive no formal support.

Left untreated, these challenges reduce productivity, worsen physical health, and shorten lives.

Traditional clinic-based models cannot meet demand. Vida Plena closes this gap by scaling evidence-based group therapy through community and government partnerships.

Current locations: Quito, Imbabura

Planned Expansions: Amazon / coastal regions

See Our Approach

Our Solution

How We’re Transforming Mental Health Care

We scale mental health care through three approaches: direct service (training facilitators), implementation partnerships (equipping governments), and learning & innovation (research / refinement). Here’s how these work in practice:

Community & Partner Training

Community Outreach & Partner Implementation

Community-led Support Groups & Ongoing Technical Support

Depression Reduced While Building Sustainable Mental Health Systems

We train local community members to deliver the World Health Organization’s top-recommended depression treatment. Our facilitators are trusted neighbors who understand their community’s needs.

Learn more about our proven model

Our Solution

How We’re Transforming Mental Health Care

We scale mental health care through three approaches: direct service (training facilitators), implementation partnerships (equipping governments), and learning & innovation (research / refinement). Here’s how these work in practice:

Community & Partner Training

Community Outreach & Partner Implementation

Community-led Support Groups & Ongoing Technical Support

Depression Reduced While Building Sustainable Mental Health Systems

We train local community members to deliver the World Health Organization’s top-recommended depression treatment. Our facilitators are trusted neighbors who understand their community’s needs.

Learn more about our proven model

Our Impact

Proven Results Across Ecuador

Evidence-based care delivered by communities creates lasting change

people treated in our first 3 years

%

with clinical depression clinically improved or recovered

%

sustain improvement 6 months later

View Full Results

These results reflect real people whose lives have been transformed through community-powered mental health care.

Voices from our communities

Shirley, 44

“The emotional support sessions came as a gift from heaven when I most needed it. The group gave me empathetic friends and showed me there are always reasons to keep going.”

Carla, 27

“The group helped me understand I could make big changes, both within myself and in society. I know I’m not alone and that I have a community that supports me.”

Katherine

“This space allowed me to see that I am not alone and that, by helping others, I also helped myself.”

Shirley, 44

“The emotional support sessions came as a gift from heaven when I most needed it. The group gave me empathetic friends and showed me there are always reasons to keep going.”

Carla, 27

“The group helped me understand I could make big changes, both within myself and in society. I know I’m not alone and that I have a community that supports me.”