November focus: encouraging men’s mental health [Letter to the Editor]

We live in a space where men’s issues are overlooked by communities, but in order to create a better world with men who protect, it would firstly be necessary to validate their experiences and allow them to be vulnerable. There are various negative factors that affect the mental health aspect of men, leading to many social problems in our communities. These include, but are not limited to, unemployment, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, high rates of suicide, depression, and absent fathers. These problems result in emotional and behavioural challenges, unstable relationships with family and children, and high rates of children without father figures. For this month of November, we seek to encourage all men within the bounds of reach to know that talking to someone does not determine any weakness or take away one’s power, but instead it means you are strong enough to realise your capabilities, the need to call for help, and the willingness to grow into being a better person. This enables you to find meaning in your life.
SAVF Thabazimbi social worker Tebogo Mangena