TikTok Expands Mental Health Education Fund by $2.3 Million — Nigeria’s Mentally Aware Initiative Among Beneficiaries

TikTok has announced a $2.3 million expansion of its 2025 Mental Health Education Fund, strengthening its commitment to digital wellbeing across the globe. The announcement was made during the platform’s Digital Wellbeing Summit, held on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The expanded fund will now support three Africa-based mental health organisations — the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), Kenya’s Mental 360, and Nigeria’s Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) — as part of TikTok’s broader mission to make accurate mental health education accessible to global audiences.

“We are going to be giving them resources to enable them produce content that can reach people who may need counselling or advice around mental health,” said Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Director of Public Policy and Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa. “These people are experts, while we are just a platform. Our job is to amplify their voices and reach.”

Supporting Local Experts with Global Reach

The TikTok Mental Health Education Fund was created to empower mental health organisations with resources to create engaging, accurate, and accessible content that informs and supports vulnerable communities.

With this latest expansion, the fund has now reached 31 mental health organisations across 22 countries, spanning Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.

The platform’s strategy is clear: equip grassroots mental health advocates with the digital tools and visibility they need to make lasting impacts — especially on a platform like TikTok, which reaches over a billion users globally.

Mentally Aware Nigeria: Breaking Barriers with Education

Among the three newly selected African organisations is Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) — a nonprofit that has been at the forefront of mental health advocacy in Nigeria since its founding in 2015 by Dr. Victor Ugo.

Ugo, a medical doctor who personally experienced depression, launched the initiative after realizing how difficult it was to access mental health support, even as a healthcare professional. His experience inspired the mission behind MANI: to bridge the mental health care gap for everyday Nigerians through education, free counselling, and destigmatization.

“What this means to us is we get more opportunities now to reach more people,” said Motunrayo Balogun, MANI’s Operations Manager. “Most of our projects are self-funded, so when we get support like this, it means our mission and vision are being recognised. It’s huge.”

Using TikTok to Reach, Educate, and Destigmatize

Balogun emphasized the importance of being able to reach more people, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok where millions of young Nigerians are already engaging with mental health content — sometimes based on misinformation or half-truths.

“It’s not just about using buzzwords like ‘gaslighting’ and ‘narcissism’ without knowing the meaning,” she explained. “With this fund, we can keep creating awareness, train people, advocate more, and help make mental health a conversation people are comfortable having.”

MANI provides free psychological first aid, educational campaigns, and community outreach programs across Nigeria. With this funding, the organisation hopes to scale its efforts, produce high-quality TikTok content, and better support underserved communities.

A Step Forward for Mental Health in Africa

The inclusion of African organisations in TikTok’s global wellbeing fund highlights a growing recognition of the mental health crisis across the continent, where resources are often scarce and stigma remains a major barrier.

By funding expert-led education, TikTok is not only providing a platform for credible voices but also aligning itself with a larger global movement to integrate mental health into everyday conversations.

As MANI prepares to use its grant to launch new awareness campaigns and digital outreach, it signals a powerful message: mental health matters, and it’s time for everyone — from platforms to policymakers — to play their part.

“We’re looking forward to doing amazing things with these funds,” Balogun concluded.

Also Read:

• [Nigeria’s Dr. Wales Named Among First TikTok Digital Well-being Ambassadors for SSA]

• [How Africa’s Youth Are Using TikTok to Fight Mental Health Stigma]

• [From Stigma to Support: The Evolution of Mental Health Advocacy in Nigeria]