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Braveheart Project
Genscore

Youth in Crisis: The Need for Mental Health Support and Drug Awareness in Our Communities

July 2, 2025

Youth in Crisis: The Need for Mental Health Support and Drug Awareness in Our Communities

  • Peace Oregbesan

Imagine this: a bright young person, full of dreams, slowly drifting away, losing themselves to silence, pressure, and pain.
 Not because they’re weak. Not because they don’t care.
 But because no one ever told them it was okay to ask for help.

This is the reality for many adolescents in Sierra Leone. In classrooms and communities across the country, young people are battling invisible wounds, wounds caused by trauma, poverty, peer pressure, and a lack of mental health support.

Without safe outlets or guidance, many turn to substances, codeine, tramadol, “loud,” alcohol, not to rebel, but to cope. To survive.
 It’s not just a health crisis; it’s a crisis of silence.

The Unspoken Struggles of Youth in Sierra Leone

In many schools and communities, young people are silently fighting battles no one sees. Beneath their smiles are stories of pressure, confusion, trauma, and stress.

Many of them feel lost, overwhelmed, or unheard. And sadly, without proper guidance or support, some turn to drugs to numb the pain or escape reality: not because they are bad, but because no one showed them a better way.

The truth is, we don’t talk enough about substance use and mental health. The silence is loud, especially among adults who don’t know how to approach these sensitive topics. Teachers feel helpless, parents are scared or unaware, and community leaders are often unequipped. Meanwhile, our young people continue to suffer, some becoming dependent on harmful substances like codeine, tramadol, loud, and even alcohol as a form of relief. But what they really need isn’t an escape. They need understanding, education, support, and someone who cares enough to speak up.

The BraveHeart Project: Changing the Narrative

The BraveHeart Project is a bold initiative designed to train teachers, youth leaders, and community workers to become champions for young people’s mental health and substance use prevention. The goal is not just to tell teens to “say no to drugs,” but to empower the trusted adults in their lives to guide them with empathy, knowledge, and confidence. Through carefully designed sessions, these adults are trained to recognize the signs of distress, to offer a listening ear, and to create safe spaces where young people can freely express themselves without fear of judgment.

The SIMBIHealth App

This project also makes use of technology through the SIMBIHealth digital app, which connects youth to helpful tools, stories, and resources around mental health and well-being. By meeting young people where they are, both physically and digitally, BraveHeart is breaking the barriers of silence and shame that often surround these issues. It’s changing the culture of silence in schools and replacing it with one of openness, support, and compassion. Young people can access resources, relatable stories, and tools to support their mental well-being, all on a platform they trust and understand.

Real Stories, Real Change

One of the most beautiful parts of the BraveHeart project is the real impact it’s already making. In schools where teachers have been trained, students who once suffered in silence are now speaking up. A young girl who used to isolate herself has now joined a peer support group. A boy who was once addicted to marijuana has begun mentoring others about making better choices. Teachers have reported a change in the way their students respond, and school heads are now organizing mental health awareness days, something they had never considered before. These stories remind us that change is possible.

SRHIN’s Mission: Health Equity, From the Ground Up

SRHIN is committed to making health accessible and inclusive for everyone, especially in underserved communities. We believe that every person regardless of where they live or what challenges they face deserves the chance to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

BraveHeart project is one of the many ways SRHIN is turning that belief into action. By equipping people at the grassroots level, we are building a movement of Brave Hearts – people who are not afraid to speak up, to support others, and to change lives.

Now more than ever, it’s time to start the conversation. It’s time to listen. It’s time to teach. And most of all, it’s time to care. Because one trained adult can change a classroom, one supportive teacher can change a school, and one safe space can change a generation.

How you can help

If you’re reading this and wondering how you can help, start by learning more. Talk to the young people around you. Support projects like BraveHeart. And remember, you don’t have to be a doctor or psychologist to make a difference. You just have to be willing to care.

  • Start conversations with young people in your life.
  • Support mental health initiatives like the BraveHeart Project.
  • Donate, partner, or volunteer to help us scale this work.

Share this article to raise awareness. Join SRHIN in raising a generation of young people who are strong, safe, supported and brave. Click below to learn more about the BraveHeart Initiative

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