A group of young people have embarked on a 150-kilometer walk from Embu Town to Meru to raise awareness on mental health and alleviate stigma associated with mental illness.
The walk by members of “Peace Ambassadors Kenya” group was flagged off by Embu West Deputy County Commissioner Mercy Gatobu on Wednesday morning with the journey expected to take three days.
The group coordinator Yvonne Murugi said the main aim of the walk themed “Transforming Mental Health Systems, Doing More and Better” was to address the growing problem of mental illness and the need to seek needed care and medical advice.
“We want to tell the society that mental illness is like any other medical illness and anybody affected should not shy away from seeking help,” she said.
She said talking openly about mental health should be encouraged, particularly among men who in most cases tend to keep it to themselves and suffer in silence unlike women who are more open in discussing their feelings and emotions.
“It is okay not to be okay,” she said, while asking anyone stressed or depressed to seek help.
The participants are expected to make stopovers at Kathageri, Igoji and Gikumene before arriving in Meru where they will hold a public forum on Friday.
Gatobu said they receive not less than three cases of people having committed suicide or committed acts of criminality that are closely related to mental illnesses.
She called on individuals experiencing mental illnesses to seek and obtain effective treatment, noting that help was available both privately and in government institutions.
By Samuel Waititu
