A Mindful Career: Breaking Stigmas, Mental Health Advocacy, and Thoughtful Entrepreneurship with Uche Ogbonna

Uche Ogbonna, a social entrepreneur and advocate for mental health, discusses the stigma surrounding mental health in Africa and how it influenced her subsequent career choices. She shares her experiences growing up with both Nigerian and Zimbabwean backgrounds and the prevailing messages she received about mental health.

Uche opens up about their calling to work in the mental health field and the formative experiences that led them to pursue psychology. They explore the connection between entrepreneurship and mental health, highlighting the importance of accessibility and the potential for impact. They also discuss the cultural impact Uche hopes to have, including promoting the use of art as a therapeutic tool and empowering children to prioritize their mental health.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

10:03 Hairdressers as Mental Health Advocates

28:10 The Power of Community and Resilience

37:14 The Calling to Make a Difference in Mental Health

47:34 Connecting Entrepreneurship and Mental Health

56:22 Specializing in Clinical Work

01:03:44 Leaving a Legacy: Advocacy and Support

Follow Uche's jorurney by connecting with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ucheogbonna/