Sparc Systems (Africa) Limited, and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Caring Hands have introduced a mobile application called Mental Lab. 

The application, which is an innovation brainchild of Caring Hands, was developed from the scratch by Sparc Systems to offer therapy video content and a platform for accessing expert mental help to those with the health challenges. 

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati, who presided over the event, has praised the innovation saying it is a game charger in fighting mental illnesses.

Caring Hands, a non-profit organisation that promotes mental health awareness, is behind the innovation while Sparc Systems, an information and communications technology firm, developed the application from scratch.

“This application will supplement the efforts of the ministry in promoting good mental health as it gives those in problems a chance to receive support even before physically meeting the therapists,” Kaliati said.

Sparc Systems General Manager, Alena Chiwaya, said her firm was excited to have finally launched the application which she believes will help thousands in coping with mental illnesses.

“Mental issues affect people in many ways. So, this app was developed to overcome the challenges that will be faced by people. This was the best way to intervene as early as possible,” she said.

Caring Hands founder Christine said the idea to develop the App was hatched during the peak period of Covid-19 as the world was locked up and the economies crashed leaving millions facing an uncertain future.

She however said even though the pandemic has slowed down and life is returning to normalcy, the application was still relevant as people still fight a range of mental illnesses as a result of broken relationships, poverty and high unemployment levels.

Caring Hands is an organisation that works at promoting the mental health awareness.