Baringo Lobby Group Launch Ambitious Project To Tackle Mental Health Concerns Among Youth

BARINGO,Kenya, Dec, 20 – Conversations of Hope, a community based organization in Baringo county has been unveiled to address the increasing cases of mental health issues among youth in the vast county.

The initiavive which was launched during a colourful ceremony seeks to address the increasing cases of gender based violence, drug and substance abuse, early marriages among others that is plaguing the youth.

Mental health concerns have in the past been neglected though the community based organisation says that the matter must be dealt with with the seriousness it deserves.

“The ministry of health should participate in this project, people should be empowered to do similar projects of knowing people’s problems and helping them,” said Rebecca Kimeli who further said that,”Currently Kenyans are going through a lot, look at social media what people post, they are not just idle, they are trying to deal with their depression and stress by shooting funny videos they may not enjoy and they are going through a lot,” said Rebecca Kimeli,”

The CBO has so far managed to reach over 8,000 youth across several schools in the county.

Members of the initiative called on the government to declare mental health a national disaster as it has driven people to become suicidal and even resulting in the destruction of marriages among other concerns.

“If these issues are not met with care and concern it is going to spill over and make youth to be devastated and bring more challenges than what we are saying of students burning schools.,” said Daniel Cheptumo.

Cathrine Choge, who is the CBO’s CEO says that the group has taken the noble step of addressing the mater before it becomes even worse.

“We are focusing on teens and adolescents , we have visited high schools and addressing issues that has been affecting them. We have enlightened them on mental health issues and it has bene a fulfilling journey seeing them airing their challenges. We tackle issues of suicide, parenting cases, GBV, Drugs and substance abuse,” said Catherine Choge.

Everyday we have to see a mental case or a mental health prioble in the news so the fact that she is trying to curb it from grass root going up is something that is notable and I am proud of the work they will do,” said Brenda Milizu.