A Bridge Across Continents: Cultivating Mental Health Counseling in Malawi

The world feels increasingly interconnected, yet the chasm between access to mental health resources in developed nations and developing countries remains vast.  Dr. Helena Boersma, program director of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at D'Youville University, is working to narrow that gap, one family at a time, in Malawi.  Her journey is a testament to perseverance, cross-cultural collaboration, and the power of individual initiative.

Dr. Boersma’s work began in 2017, when she traveled to Lilongwe, Malawi, as part of a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) delegation.  Instructing graduate students at the African University for Guidance, Counselling and Youth Development, she witnessed firsthand the dedication of local clinicians and the pressing need for specialized training, particularly in family counseling.  Malawi’s professional training programs, she discovered, lacked a focus on this crucial area.

Undeterred by the winding road that followed, including the shuttering of her previous institution, Medaille University, and the global pandemic, Dr. Boersma pressed on.  What began as a seed of an idea blossomed into a full-fledged research project, navigating institutional review boards in both the United States and Malawi.  She even secured private funding to ensure the project’s continuation after Medaille’s closure. 

A key element of Dr. Boersma’s work is its collaborative nature. Crucially, she partnered with Nthanda Longwe-Pearson, a former student and Malawian native, whose aspirations to support her home communities aligned perfectly with the project’s goals.  Their joint presentation at the NBCC Global Conference in 2022 underscored the project’s potential impact.  Ms. Longwe-Pearson’s involvement exemplifies the power of bridging cultural divides and fostering local expertise.

Image

The impact of Dr. Boersma’s training is already evident.  “I was grateful that the training left me feeling better equipped to tackle family work,” one participant shared. “In certain instances, it introduced me to completely new concepts, while in other circumstances, the training gave names to tools/skills I have used in my clinical work thus far. I also appreciated the balance between theory and practical work.”  Another participant noted, “For me through this training I have increased my knowledge as psychosocial counselor. I can handle the family issues using the techniques I have learnt in different approach. I am very grateful.”  The training has clearly resonated with Malawian clinicians, as evidenced by another participant’s enthusiastic feedback: “I am so grateful that I have an opportunity to attend this training which will help me in applying the new knowledge in my daily work routine.  Thank you, Dr. Helena and Nthanda for this beautiful educative training. Please come back again for more trainings like this. Love from Malawi.”

Now at D'Youville University, Dr. Boersma is seeking a research grant to finalize the project, returning to Malawi to provide further training to community counselors.  Her vision extends beyond this initial project, with discussions underway to establish a study abroad program with St. John of God University in Lilongwe, fostering a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and experience between students in the U.S. and Malawi.

Image

Dr. Boersma’s work is a powerful example of how individual commitment can drive meaningful change.  Her dedication to building capacity within Malawi’s mental health system, coupled with her collaborative approach, offers a model for international engagement that prioritizes local needs and empowers local communities.  It is a reminder that even in the face of significant challenges, the pursuit of a more just and equitable world, one where access to mental health care is not determined by geography, is a goal worth fighting for.