About us
Young people supporting young people, at national scale
Letters to Strangers Liberia is a youth-led mental health organisation working to expand access to affordable, evidence-based and stigma-free mental health support throughout Liberia.
Our story
From letters between strangers to a national system of care
We are the Liberia chapter of Letters to Strangers, the largest global youth-run mental health non-profit, founded in 2013. Since 2019 we have been building something Liberia has never had: mental health support that reaches people where they are, in the language they speak, at no cost to them.
We began with young people supporting young people through peer circles and anonymous letter-writing. In 2021 we opened the 9898 toll-free hotline. A Mobile Clinic followed, carrying care into communities with no health facility, together with a growing network of trained caregivers, referral partners and public institutions.
Today we are preparing to open Move To Heal, Liberia's first dedicated youth mental health clinic.
Mission
To provide free, accessible, trauma-informed mental health support to all Liberians through a national toll-free hotline and mobile clinic, reaching those most left behind by poverty, geography and stigma.
Vision
A Liberia and a West Africa in which mental health is understood, destigmatised and accessible to all, where no person suffers alone, in silence, without hope.
Our values
What guides every call, visit and session
Dignity
Every person is believed and respected.
Accessibility
Cost and distance are never the reason someone goes without help.
Cultural humility
We work within people's worldview, not against it.
Trauma-informed care
Safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment in every interaction.
Radical transparency
We share our data and invite scrutiny of our results.
People before institutions
Services are designed around the person, not the system.
The problem
Three walls stand between people and help
Poverty
About half of Liberians lived in extreme poverty in 2021. Transport to a clinic, let alone private care, is out of reach for most families.
Source: World Bank, Liberia Economic Update (June 2022), as reported by Local Voices Liberia.
Geography
Specialist care is concentrated in Monrovia. Two to three psychiatrists were reported for the whole country in 2018–2019.
Sources: The Carter Center. Liberia ramps up resources to improve mental health for children and adolescents. 30 March 2018. Médecins Sans Frontières. Providing psychiatric care close to home in Liberia. 24 July 2019.
Stigma
In our community survey, 74% said they would be embarrassed to seek help and 61% attributed mental illness to spiritual causes.
Source: Letters to Strangers Liberia, community survey on mental health attitudes.
Our approach
Built for Liberia, by Liberians
Free at the point of contact
The hotline is toll-free and the Mobile Clinic visits without charge.
Youth-led
Young Liberians design, deliver and lead our work as responders, peer supporters and coordinators.
Culturally grounded
Our counsellors are Liberian and work within cultural and spiritual worldviews.
Integrated
Hotline, clinic and referral partners work as one connected system.
Evidence-informed
Our THRIVE Framework is grounded in WHO mhGAP and community-centred care.
Milestones
Our journey
2013
Letters to Strangers is founded as a youth-run mental health movement built on anonymous letter-writing and peer education. It grows into a network active in 72 countries.
2019
Letters to Strangers Liberia is established as a registered Liberian non-profit, starting with peer circles and expressive writing for young people.
2021
The 9898 toll-free hotline opens: Liberia's first youth-led toll-free mental health crisis line, which becomes the country's largest mental health helpline.
Apr 2026
Cumulative reach is published: more than 140,000 calls received, more than 5,000 referrals and 75 clinicians trained.
Jun 2026
We present our work to the Ministry of Health, publish the THRIVE Framework and set a focused work plan centred on the hotline and police training partnership.
Oct 2026
World Mental Health Day campaign planned with the Ministry of Health Mental Health Unit. Move To Heal enters its final preparation phase.
Leadership and team
A youth-led team with clinical backing
Reuben Reeves
Founder & Country Director
A Liberian social entrepreneur whose work spans mental health, education and community development. Reuben is an Acumen West Africa Fellow and a Youth Advisory Board Member of the Social Enterprise World Forum.
L2SLiberia is run by a youth-led core team of trained counsellors, hotline responders, mental health volunteers and community health workers. They work with clinical supervisors and mental health professionals to keep services evidence-based. A Director of Programs leads the hotline, Mobile Clinic and community work, supported by programme coordinators and monitoring and evaluation. We work in close coordination with Letters to Strangers headquarters.
Registration and affiliations
Accountable and accredited
Ministry of Health
Accredited as a mental health provider. We work with the MoH Mental Health Unit on oversight, policy alignment and referral.
Registered non-profit
Registered in Liberia, established 2019. TIN 501463377. Business Registration No. 053085784.
Letters to Strangers
The Liberia chapter of a global youth-run mental health network active in 72 countries.
Police Academy
A Training-of-Trainers partnership with the Liberia National Police Academy and Training School.