The abuse of drugs and mental illness amongst the youth is on the ascendancy. To take mental health education to the doorsteps of the general public, the Health Unit of MEMHREP GHANA on 24 February 2023 educated teachers and students of St Martin's M/A JHS at Akokoamong in the Ejisu district of the Ashanti region of Ghana. The event which was well anticipated and patronized, saw in attendance about 12 teachers and about 200 students.

The CEO of MEMHREP, Mr Adu-Gyamfi admonished the students to avoid bad peer influence and absenteeism since these negative vices would thwart their progress in life and subsequently affect their mental health. Mr Emmanuel Osei Tutu, a Community Mental Health Nurse at MEMHREP GHANA, advised the students to avoid the abuse of not only narcotics or elicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin but also pain killers such as tramadol and paracetamol since they affect their physical wellbeing when not properly administered.

He also touched on some sensitive topics such as pre- marital sex, teenage pregnancy, abortion and smoking as factors contributing to depression amongst the youth in Ghana. He therefore impressed on the students to seek early counselling and treatment when they experiment with narcotic drugs and also stop stigmatizing persons living with mental illness. The headmistress of St Martin's M/A JHS. Madam Elizabeth Sarkodie who could not hold her excitement, thanked staff of MEMHREP-GHANA for their selfless and volunteering spirit. She therefore asked them to make it a point to visit the school each academic term to educate the students.