Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau.
Leaders in Ndaragwa, Nyandarua County, have launched an initiative to educate the area youth against drug and substance abuse.
Drug abuse in the area has been blamed for the rising cases of suicide, depression and early pregnancies. The vice has been attributed to lack of parental guidance and peer pressure.
Over 200 youth from the area yesterday participated in a 17-kilometre mental health awareness walk that involved hiking to Ol-Donyo Olesatima Summit, the highest peak of the Aberdare Ranges, to create awareness on drug addiction and depression.
The walk was meant to help engage the youth on stress management and how to deal with depression, while at the same time encouraging them to understand the environment around them, and the beauty of nature.
According to Nyandarua deputy commissioner Lilian Njagi and Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau who participated in the walk, mental health problems had reached an alarming level in the area and should be addressed.
“We have decided as leaders in the region to engage the youth so we can fight drug abuse that has led to depression. That is why we have launched this programme which will be held annually,” Gitau said.
She said that her office had started counselling programmes for the youth engaging in drug use.