Our Story
Sheronica and Mayan established Uzima in 2021 to provide healing to the Oakland community in all areas of people’s lives with an emphasis on nutrition and mental health. Uzima is short for Mti Wa Uzima which means ‘Tree of Life’ in Swahili. Our goal is that Uzima can become this for the city of Pittsburgh.
Why mental health?
For the people who have experienced depression firsthand the definition of the word does not do it any justice. There are no words that can fully describe the depths of pain and sorrow which accompany depression and other mental illnesses.
Mayan is one of the many millions of people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. “I was in pain for a very long time and at one point almost lost all hope things would ever get better.” Mayan has battled major depression, generalized anxiety and bipolar for over 15 years and the road to recovery has been a long and difficult journey, but because of his journey he wants to use his experience to help others. Sheronica and Mayan want to use Uzima to give a voice to those dealing with mental illness and want to use the store as a safe environment for people who want to explore and better understand their mental health.
“I want them to know the support is out there and they are not alone on this journey.”
For people who are battling mental illness, we are on this journey with you.
Mental Health Support Groups
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National Alliance on Mental Illness
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) began with a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979. NAMI now has hundreds of state organizations, affiliates, and volunteer leaders who work in local communities across the country to raise awareness and provide essential and free education, advocacy, and support groups to individuals and families affected by mental illness. There are more than 30 NAMI affiliates across Pennsylvania.
Find your local PA NAMI chapter below.
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Peer Support & Advocacy Network
Peer Support and Advocacy Network's (PSAN) mission is to build a community free of stigma, where individuals with mental illness work together toward recovery of mind, body and spirit.
PSAN provides peer support for individuals over the age of 18 with mental health challenges living in Allegheny County. Phone lines are open 365 days a year from 10 a.m. to midnight.
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UPMC resolve Crisis Services
resolve is a 24-hour, 365-day crisis service that’s free to all Allegheny County residents. resolve is sponsored by both Allegheny County and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital.
Their 150-member crisis team provides crisis counseling and support, referrals, intervention services for adults, teens, and their loved ones.
Don’t wait for a problem to get out of control. Just call resolve Crisis Services for help at 1-888-796-8226 or just walk-in to their crisis center located at 333 North Braddock Ave.
Social and Community