SameSame (SiyaFanaFana)

SameSame (SiyaFanaFana)

Civic and Social Organizations

Supporting the mental health and resilience of LGBTQ+ youth throughout the Global South.

About us

Navigating adolescence is challenging for everyone, but it’s especially difficult for young people questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity. In the United States of America, lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are almost five times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and the situation is even more dire in countries like Nigeria and Indonesia, where support is dangerous to access, if it exists at all. At a time in their lives when they most need understanding and advice, LGBTQ+ youth around the world often have nowhere to turn. SameSame is here to change that. ACCESS TO INFORMATION In countries where LGBTQ+ people face discrimination, imprisonment, and the threat of violence, there's a desperate lack of access to private, secure, and relevant information. SameSame provides young people with an opportunity to access essential information from doctors, lawyers, therapists, and other young people who’ve had the courage to share their stories. SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH The stress of being LGBTQ+ in socially conservative and discriminatory environments can be profoundly harmful to queer youth. LGBTQ+ youth are far more likely than their peers to experience mental health issues. SameSame works with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) experts to create evidence-backed activities that help users set goals, fight depression and anxiety, deal with stress, and overcome both internal and external homo- and transphobia so that they can achieve their full potential. LINKING YOUTH TO SERVICES For LGBTQ+ youth who feel ready, or who find themselves with no other choice, SameSame connects them to locally-available service providers that have been vetted to ensure that they're LGBTQ+ friendly. Where vetting of doctors, clinics, shelters, and legal support is not possible, or services aren’t available, SameSame helps users understand how to access services as safely as possible. Contact us at hello@samesamecollective.org for more information.

Website
https://www.samesamecollective.org/
Industry
Civic and Social Organizations
Company size
11-50 employees
Headquarters
New York City
Type
Nonprofit
Founded
2020
Specialties
mental health, behavior change, cognitive behavioral therapy, cbt, affirm cbt, affirm, queer youth, lgbtq+ youth, lgbtqi+ youth, technology, technology for change, whatsapp, chatbots, social and behavior change communication, community development, advocacy, and resource management

Locations

Employees at SameSame (SiyaFanaFana)

Updates

  • SameSame (SiyaFanaFana) reposted this

    View profile for Dena Batrice, graphic

    Global Mental Health Clinician, Wellness Content Creator, Exploring intersections of Digital Mental Health, Technology & Innovation, Human Rights Activist, Progressive Humanitarian Leader.

    SameSame (SiyaFanaFana) is at it again this morning. Come join me at 13:00 to network about the importance of culturally sensitive, affirming, digital mental health for global LGBTQI+ communities! #AIDS2024 #GMHAN #MentalHealth

    View profile for Dena Batrice, graphic

    Global Mental Health Clinician, Wellness Content Creator, Exploring intersections of Digital Mental Health, Technology & Innovation, Human Rights Activist, Progressive Humanitarian Leader.

    If you are at #Aids2024 come chat with me in the United for Global Mental Health networking space in the global village about Digital LGBTQI+ Affirming Mental Health Care at 13:30. See you there! SameSame (SiyaFanaFana)

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  • SameSame is proud to have played a small role in putting this chat together. Join us!

    Join the Global Mental Health Action Network’s new LGBTQI+ Working Group at the Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum as we discuss Navigating Queer Mental Health in Hostile Climates. This session will explore the unique mental health challenges and opportunities within the queer community, and foster a new movement of LGBTQI+ leadership. Be part of this conversation by the registering for the advocacy forum here:https://gmhan2024.com #GMHAN2024 #MHAdvocacyForum   #MHForAll #MakeMentalHealthMatter 

  • SameSame (SiyaFanaFana) reposted this

    Happy Pride Month! 🌈 We want to recognize the vibrant and diverse LGBTQIA+ community by celebrating those pushing for equity. This week, we will spotlight tech nonprofits and builders working for change. We’re starting with Jonathan McKay, the founder of SameSame (SiyaFanaFana), a tech nonprofit that provides queer youth with safe, identity-affirming resources. Jono says: “This pride month, I'm inspired by the example set by the late Simon Nkoli (1957 - 1998), an anti-apartheid activist who was also at the forefront of the fight for gay rights in South Africa. Thanks to the sacrifices of Simon and countless others, South Africa's first democratic constitution in 1994 became the only constitution in the world to explicitly protect sexual minorities from discrimination. As Simon himself said during the long fight for liberation, ‘I am Black and I am Gay. I cannot separate the two parts into secondary and primary struggles. In South Africa I am oppressed because I am a Black man, and I am oppressed because I am gay. So, when I fight for my freedom, I must fight against both oppressors. All those who believe in a democratic South Africa must fight against all oppression, all intolerance, all injustice.’"

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  • SameSame is proud to be a founding member of this really exciting new working group. Join us!

    🏳️🌈 NEW Working Group Launch for Pride Month! 🏳️🌈 We are thrilled to announce the launch of the new LGBTQI+ Working Group! The group has been established to address the specific and underserved needs of LGBTQI+ communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, that are experiencing disproportionate mental health challenges. The Working Group aims to: 💡 Provide a safe and supportive space for shared learning and collaboration. 💡 Develop resources for policymakers, clinicians, advocates and innovators focused on tailored interventions. 💡 Advocate for increased funding for identity-affirming mental health interventions. Check out this blog authored by members of this new Working Group to learn more about the global needs for greater coordination, collaboration and capacity building 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eetqcPFX Sign up to the Working Group now and join us as we work to break down barriers and create meaningful change and impact! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eAZxR4hd We are pleased to be able to form new Working Groups that bridge key gaps in the mental health sector with the support of lululemon and Pinterest. Their funding and dedicated commitment to the growth and development of the Action Network makes this possible. Kathy Gu #MentalHealthMatters #PRIDE

    • Join the new LGBTQI+ Working Group
  • One of SameSame's co-founders, Jonathan McKay, is making a guest appearance during tomorrow's Masters of Scale Strategy Session at 6.30 pm ET (that's 12.30 am in South Africa and Zim — sorry, friends!). Host Rana el Kaliouby, Ph.D. and Karim Lakhani of Harvard Business School will be chatting about navigating the future of AI. We have our own special registration link in case you're interested: https://hubs.la/Q02BN1DD0

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  • It's Mental Health Action Day today! 🌍 SameSame is proud to partner with MTV and mental health orgs across the world to spread the message that mental health IS health and there are simple things we can all do, every day, to improve our mental health and support those around us. It’s what our chatbot does for LGBTQI+ young people — helps them take action, in spite of all the challenges they face 🤖💪🏾 You can take action by being a better friend to those going through tough times. The team at MTV came up with a neat acronym that might help the next time you find someone in your life needs support — A.S.K for Acknowledge, Support and Keep-in-touch. ✅ Acknowledge and validate feelings, ✅ ask how you can support and ✅ check back in regularly and consistently.

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  • Thinking about where SameSame needs to launch next... 👀

    View profile for Laura Biscaglia, graphic

    Gender and GBV programming, capacity development & research

    The 2024 edition of the ILGA World maps is out. The maps offer a snapshot on the extent to which LGBTIQ+ people are affected by laws and policies around the world. Given the frequent backlash of discussing topics linked to the so-called "gender ideology", visual representations are only more valuable in showing the scale of violations and why we do need to talk about and act on it. More maps on criminalization of consensual same-sex acts, interventions on intersex minors, so-called conversion therapy, and marriage equality are available here: https://lnkd.in/d6M8hpuX. #ilgaworldmaps #lgbtdata #genderideology

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  • SameSame's Executive Director and Co-founder, Jonathan McKay, will be in Utah next week as one of the keynote speakers at #GoodTechFest. There’s an amazing lineup of speakers, in person and online in the virtual conference, so sign up if you're interested in learning more about the diverse ways that digital technologies (including AI) are being used to create more good in the world. Use GOODTECH2024 for 50% off tickets.

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