November is globally celebrated as International Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. In view of this context, a South African Coalition partnership programme called Generation Gender, hosted a mental health imbizo at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The imbizo aimed at addressing the pressing issue of escalating male suicide rates, promoting better mental health among men, and empowering men to become allies in the fight against gender-based violence.
According to a report by the South African Society of Psychiatrists, South Africa is ranked number 10 on the list of countries with the most suicides, with 23.5 suicides per 100,000 people and men leading the numbers.
In South Africa, there has been an increase in men-centred organisations and other structures that seek to bridge the gap between factors that isolate men vis-a-vis their mental health problems and help-seeking behaviour. Men who need mental health support can access a myriad of platforms in contemporary society, but the take-up rates could be a lot stronger.
Coalition response to high levels of suicide
Adding to these resources, the Generation Gender South African coalition imbizo themed, Men at work - toward the redress of the stigma attached to mental health and the empowerment of men in their full diversity with mental health tools towards being effective allies toward the end of Gender-Based Violence. The master of ceremonies was comedian and filmmaker David Kau and a keynote address was given by artist and author Dr Jerry Mofokeng.
Reflecting on the need for the imbizo, Mofokeng said, “We put our heads in the sand, and we hide. We don’t go to conferences or workshops or get counselling or read, so any platform that is offered where men can talk to each other and not be talked to excites me.
“At the age of 14, I lost sight in one eye, so I have been seeing life with one eye for 53 years since 1970. I also had a spine operation that almost paralyzed me, and I live with that scar. Healing first happens in the head and not the body”, he shared.
The imbizo also had a mental health masterclass and dialogue with the Gentlemen’s Clinic, at which experts discussed critical health issues affecting men.
The 2019 World Health Report indicated that from the 13 774 suicides reported in South Africa, 10 861 were among men. The imbizo provided a safe and practical environment for men in their full diversity to gather and participate in mental health interventions to capacitate them with knowledge and practical tools they can use to address mental health problems and become effective allies toward the end of gender-based violence.
Activities to redress stigma attached to talking about mental health
To unpack the high rate of male suicides, the Imbizo also had café sessions led by the Boys2Men programme founder, Nick Nzama; founder of the Cool Dads Foundation, Bongani Luvalo; artivist, Siv Ngesi; artist and author, Ntsikelelo Mzimbomvu; and NotInMyName International CEO, Siyabulela Jentile. During the cafe conversations, the men gathered in groups to explore interventions for mental health, destigmatise mental health discussions and engage in creative activities.
There was also a self-care corner led by artivist Siv Ngesi and grooming activities from Sorbet Man Kyalami, to highlight the importance of self-care as an intervention to combat mental health issues.
Reflecting on his involvement at the Imbizo, Siv Ngesi says that men tend to suffer in silence and that a culture of checking in on people should be fostered locally.
“We need safe spaces for men to be able to talk and be listened to. We need spaces where men can be men and the problem in society is not masculinity or men but rather toxic masculinity”, Siv Ngesi remarks.
“When a man shows emotions, he shouldn’t be ridiculed or reduced to a meme, “we should normalize showing men crying and show content on social media on TV of strong men crying. The saying that big boys don’t cry is actually bullshit. The strongest of men cry and they cry because of closed doors,” Ngesi adds.
Studies indicate that there are strong linkages between men’s mental health and their perpetration of gender-based violence. Men's mental health issues have previously been swept under the carpet or dismissed as signs of weakness. However, there is a growing need for men, and society as a whole, to take a different approach.
Zamayirha Peter is an Advocacy Communications Specialist with over eight years of experience in multimedia journalism and communications. Her passion is using development communications to contribute to the advancement and empowerment of communities – particularly the youth across the continent and influence global conversations by using strategic communication tools.
Article References:
https://www.sasop.co.za/mens-health
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/MHF-tackling-inequalities-report.pdf