Sabina Zunguze

I've been working in mental health since 1991, initially as a researcher at local, state, and international levels, evaluating whether treatments are working. I worked on two big grants on children's mental health and substance abuse in Ohio from 1991 to 2015. I'm originally from Zimbabwe but have lived here since 1989. During that time, I also founded A Gift to Africa, working with women in Africa since 2000, helping them economically and bringing their wonderful products and superfoods to the U.S. market. In 2017, I lost my daughter, and as a person who was in the mental health field, I didn't see that she was struggling. Since her passing, I've been doing a lot of suicide prevention training, education, and speaking. My family and I formed the Tatis Foundation for Suicide Prevention, where we sponsor kids, other youth, and programs in the community to help those who probably know someone who's struggling and don't know where to go. I work on various suicide prevention boards at the state level here in Florida and at the local level. I'm certified in different ways of helping those who are struggling, and I go into schools, companies, organizations, and nonprofits. I also book rooms at libraries and invite people to come because most people don't know where to go when someone is struggling. I provide the non-clinical part because a lot of times people cannot afford to go to a therapist or just want to talk. I'm that bridge, someone they can sit down and talk to while waiting for clinical services or when they can't afford them. I'm starting webinars next month where people can jump on and we just talk, and if they need more of my services, the webinars are free, and then they pay a little bit for additional support.