Intercontinental Well-Being Services Limited (IWS) is a company that focuses on providing public education, research, and advocacy on mental health to the community, primarily to the corporate world, educational institutions, and peer groups. Our goal is to enable a healthy, meaningful life and economic agility in Tanzania and beyond.
Mental health and psychoactive substance-related disorders are prevalent globally, affecting individuals of all backgrounds, ages, and socio-economic statuses.
Approximately one in eight individuals, or nearly one billion people, live with a mental disorder, making these conditions the leading cause of years lived with disability (YLDs). Severe conditions, such as schizophrenia, significantly reduce life expectancy, with individuals often dying 10 to 20 years earlier due to preventable physical diseases.
Despite the high prevalence, a large portion of those with mental health conditions remain untreated. Only 29% of people with psychosis receive mental health services globally. Depression and anxiety are the most common disorders, affecting 13.5% of women and 12.5% of men worldwide, while substance use disorders are more prevalent among men.
Suicide is a leading cause of death, especially among adolescents and young people. Tanzania, which has one of the highest suicide rates in Africa, is particularly affected, with individuals aged 15–29 at the highest risk. Stigma, the criminalization of suicide, and the lack of suicide prevention helplines further discourage individuals from seeking help.
International efforts, including the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target to reduce suicide mortality by one-third by 2030, aim to address this crisis. However, suicide still accounts for over one in every 100 deaths globally.
In Tanzania, where over two-thirds of the population is under 24, mental health issues are compounded by stigma, social exclusion, and inadequate healthcare resources. Many low-income countries, including Tanzania, exclude mental health care from national health insurance schemes, leading to treatment gaps exceeding 70%.
To become the globe's most innovative wellness company by 2040.
Our mission is to provide innovative wellness services to our clients through integrated products. We are dedicated to contributing to global efforts to reduce the impact of mental health issues while fostering a meaningful life and economic agility locally and beyond.
IWS believes in conducting all its operations with diligence and integrity, emphasizing: