Bryan Sackey is tackling a topic that remains largely taboo in his home country of Ghana
Sackey is an outpatient mental health clinician and psychopharmacologist working at a Veterans Association location in Washington, D.C., managing psychiatric medication and consulting with veterans with severe mental health conditions, he told AFROTECH™
He also works as a mental health coach. He is the founder of Mental Keys, a wellness-led venture launched in July 2025 that offers culturally responsive, evidence-based support, according to his LinkedIn profile. Sackey offers one-on-one mental health coaching and psychopharmacology consultations, as well as community-centered workshops to help clients with mental health-related or life goals
“I wanted to create an avenue to connect with my community as much as possible within the realm of mental health,” Sackey said
Mobile Web App
The latest expansion of Mental Keys is its mobile web app platform. Sackey described it as a more personalized and comprehensive approach to mental health care. It is a culturally responsive, evidence-based mental wellness platform with AI insights
“The way [AI is] incorporated is very carefully crafted because, as we know within the health space, especially mental health, AI can actually be a deterrent or potentially disrupt a person’s mental health journey with wrong information. In the case [of Mental Keys], it’s synthesizing information and then identifying the components that are already built in within the app that correlate best with what the patient may need at the time,” he explained.
Users are required to complete a 15-item assessment of lifestyle and protective factors, such as sleep restoration, physical activity, nutritional quality, accessible support, stress recovery, coping style, and community connection, among others
Users will then receive a personalized plan that includes daily activities and access to community and professional services. People can also be connected to nearby events based on their scores or areas where they need improvement
It is noted that the assessment is not intended as a clinical diagnostic tool and cannot diagnose, treat, or replace professional mental health evaluation, according to information shared with AFROTECH™
Users will also have access to journal prompts and exercises to reduce anxiety and depression. There is also a feature where users can chat with a coach, gaining access to culturally responsive care
“Within a Black community, what I recognize is that when there’s language around ‘Go talk to a therapist, you need help,’ and so forth, people kind of get resistant. So it’s more so helping to highlight, ‘Hey, you may not recognize it, but you have habits that can affect your mental well-being, and so it’s probably good for you to get in touch with a healthcare professional, talk to somebody, and just practice healthy habits.’ It’s not an emergency, but it’s kind of giving the user a lane as to where their mental well-being may be according to their practices and lifestyle habits,” Sackey explained.
This mobile web app is available in English, Twi (a native language in Ghana), and Spanish
