TikTok Expands 2025 Mental Health Fund by 230% to $2.3 Million

TikTok has announced a significant expansion of its 2025 Mental Health Education Fund, allocating an additional $2.3 million to support mental health initiatives. This announcement was made during the Digital Wellbeing Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The expansion aims to provide resources to mental health organizations, enabling them to produce content that reaches individuals in need of counseling and support.

The fund will benefit three Africa-based mental health awareness organizations: the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), Kenya’s Mental 360, and Nigeria’s Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI). These organizations were selected for their expertise in mental health and their ability to leverage TikTok’s platform to reach a wider audience.

Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations for TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized that the fund is designed to support organizations in producing content that can reach people who may need counseling or advice around mental health. He noted that while TikTok is a platform, the selected organizations are experts in the field, and the company aims to make its resources available to help them reach wider constituencies.

With this expansion, the TikTok Mental Health Education Fund has now reached 31 mental health organizations across 22 countries, spanning Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. This initiative underscores TikTok’s commitment to promoting mental health awareness and providing support to those in need.

Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) is one of the new beneficiaries of the TikTok Mental Health Education Fund. Founded in 2015 by Dr. Victor Ugo, a medical practitioner who was once diagnosed with depression, MANI aims to help everyday people access the mental health care they need. Dr. Ugo’s personal experience highlighted the challenges in accessing mental health support, prompting him to establish the organization.

Motunrayo Balogun, Operations Manager at Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, expressed gratitude for being selected as a recipient of the fund. She noted that the additional resources will provide more opportunities to reach a larger audience and advance the organization’s mission of promoting mental health awareness. The fund will enable MANI to create more content on TikTok, reaching a significant portion of its billion users with accurate information on mental health.

Balogun emphasized that the fund will help MANI achieve its mission of ensuring that everyone is informed about mental health and its importance. She highlighted that the organization offers free mental awareness counseling and provides psychological first aid for those in need. By leveraging TikTok’s platform, MANI aims to create awareness, educate people, and make mental health a comfortable topic of conversation.

This expansion of the Mental Health Education Fund demonstrates TikTok’s commitment to supporting mental health initiatives and providing resources to organizations that are making a difference in the lives of individuals in need. By partnering with these organizations, TikTok aims to create a positive impact on mental health awareness and support globally.