10/06/2024
Mental health Monday's with Amanda Ndebele
Men’s mental health matters
“To all of our men, you are worthy of happiness and peace of mind”
There’s a lot of stigma around mental health for men and boys that have made it extremely difficult for men to open up about the issues they are facing.
Why is men’s mental health important? because according to the world health report it indicates that from 13 774 su***de reports in South Africa, 10 861 were among men.
Even though mental health affects both men and women some disorders are diagnosis at comparable rates for men
Let’s quickly look at the symptoms of mental disorders in men.
• Anger or aggressiveness
• Changes in mood, energy level drops and loss of appetite,
• Difficult in sleeping or sleeping too much
• Misuse of alcohol or drugs /or both.
• Engaging in high-risk activities.
• Headaches or digestive problems without a clear cause.
• Thoughts or behaviours that interfere with work, family or social life.
• Thoughts of death or su***de attempts.
I think the biggest reason why men struggle to open up is because traditionally, our society has positioned men as strong, privileged and the breadwinners, so having a perceived disadvantage, such as a mental illness makes them weak or unmanly, and if we pay close attention every culture has a different way of looking at mental health.
This attitude is rooted in historical misconceptions and we also can’t run away from the fact that other cultures may not recognize mental illness.
Honestly, I think the biggest battle is internal, with self, men often feel ashamed and embarrassed about their own health and this could lead to in denial and ignoring the symptoms.
While the challenges to creating change are significant, we can achieve progress by educating our men and society at large around mental health and its true impact and by reshaping perceptions of man hood but most importantly is to try and create a safe space so they are able to open up without judgement.
Here’s tips that could be of use to men in such situations
• Build social connections- with friends, family, or find an organisation near you that advocates for mental health or social issues.
• Engage in a hobby – do something you like or try something new
• Get regular exercise
• Nourish your body – Eat fresh and healthy
• Consider counselling- this could help with managing stress and different situations in your life.
“Finally, know that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness”.
Article by Amanda Ndebele, Mental Health Expert