Join Peter Yaro (CEO, BasicNeeds-Ghana ) and Thanh Tam Nguyen Nguyen (CEO, BasicNeeds Vietnam) in conversation with Chris Underhill MBE (Founder, BasicNeeds) as they reflect on the journey of BasicNeeds— Together, they’ll share stories from the field, explore hard-earned lessons, and look ahead to the future.
About BasicNeeds:
Founded in 2000 by social entrepreneur Chris Underhill and partners from the Global South, BasicNeeds pioneered a community-based approach to mental health and development. At the heart of this approach was the BasicNeeds Model (also known as the Model for Mental Health and Development), which mobilizes local resources to deliver cost-effective, holistic mental health services.
Over time, country programmes became independently registered organisations, continuing to sustain the work. In 2022, they came together with CBM to form the BasicNeeds Network—a platform that strengthens local action while fostering global advocacy and knowledge-sharing.
