By petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, June 12, Mana: Economic pressure, unemployment, substance abuse and unresolved trauma are major factors fueling serious mental health crises among men in the country.
National Coordinator for a youth-led group, Sorry I’m not Sorry, Joseph Sukali said in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Thursday that the rise in male mental health issues is a direct reflection of undressed mental health struggles because many men bottle up pain until it becomes unbearable.
“Culturally, men are raised to be strong and silent, which creates a toxic cycle where emotional pain fuels silence.
“Mental health should not be a side conversation; it must be part of development planning. As a nation we must mainstream mental health wellness in schools, workplaces, community programs and health centres, just like we did with gender,” Sukali said.
He said men have been suffering in silence for too long saying this is the reason the country has failed to build strong families.
He added that as part of breaking the silence of men, they have designed to offer two free counselling therapy sessions which started on 10th June up to 10th July to encourage men to open up and seek help without shame or fear and to dismantle the stigma around mental health.
“As the world is observing men’s mental health awareness month this June, we hope that this initiative will offer a safe and professional space for men to express themselves, ultimately reduce the risk of depression and suicide,” he added.
Executive Director for Health and Equal Rights for All, Maziko Matemba said society’s expectations of masculinity often deny men the space to express vulnerability as such the more they delay addressing it, the more lives are lost.
“Government and other stakeholders need to enact measures to prevent these factors and at the same time look at the root causes and solutions to prevent the increase of mental health. By focusing on men during Men’s Mental Health Month we are addressing challenges and problems associated with mental health since men have been suffering in silence for too long,” said Matemba.
