We conducted 30 ‘semistructured’ interviews with leaders in health and mental health in Zimbabwe to explore key stakeholder perceptions on the challenges and opportunities of the country’s mental health system. We coded the transcripts using the constant comparative method, informed by basics of grounded theory. Few people with mental disorders in low and ‘middleincome’ countries receive treatment, in part being that mental disorders are highly stigmatized and do not enjoy priority and resources commensurate with their burden on society. Consequently, over the course of his career Briggs, through his compassion, gentle voice, eye contact, and his innate capacity for listening to understand encouraged more than 200 of these anguished souls to come back over the bridge’s rail, where they had been standing precariously on the bridge’s chord, to solid ground and a completely new chapter in their lives. These challenging but rewarding efforts earned him the nickname Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Despite their perception that mental health is widely misunderstood and under appreciated in Zimbabwe, respondents expressed optimism that strategically speaking out can reduce stigma and increase access to care. While empowering service users to advocate, and integrating mental health with other health initiatives, key problems included navigating hierarchies. Briggs is mapping a movement, today as a cancer survivor, as a family member and father, and as a leader and co worker. However, participants described six distinct components of advocacy. Two the respondents thirds discussed advocacy, often in depth, returning to the concept throughout the interview and emphasizing their belief in advocacy’s importance.
