Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
Mental health awareness initiatives targeting men are gaining momentum in Zimbabwe, with about 2 000 men benefiting from Vitality Wellness campaign, highlighting growing private sector investment in employee psychosocial support.
The campaign, which initially sought to engage 2 000 men during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month in June, reached 1 940 men during the month alone, achieving 97 percent of its target. The programme was implemented in partnership with mining companies, financial institutions, churches and private sector organisations.
Vitality Wellness lead consultant Ms Edith Maziofa Tapfuma said the response from organisations demonstrated a growing recognition of the importance of prioritising men’s mental well-being.
“We set out to reach 2 000 men during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month and we are proud to have reached 1 940. Behind that figure are real conversations, real lives and real opportunities to break the silence around mental health challenges affecting men,” said Ms Tapfuma.
“For many years, men have been expected to carry their struggles in silence. What we are seeing now is a willingness by organisations and communities to create safe spaces where men can talk openly and seek support without fear of stigma.”
Ms Tapfuma said the momentum generated in June continued well into July as more organisations requested male engagement sessions, reflecting growing awareness within the private sector of the need to address mental health challenges affecting men.
She said companies including Zimbabwe Power Company, ZPC and BOC Zimbabwe joined the initiative, resulting in the programme surpassing the 2 000-men mark through engagements conducted across multiple sectors.
According to campaign figures, Mimosa Mining Company accounted for the largest share of participants, reaching 949 men, representing 48.9 percent of the total. BancABC Zimbabwe reached 150 men, while Saint-Gobain engaged 91 men. Norton Anglican Church reached 60 men, while Securico Security Services accounted for 40 men.
Beyond awareness sessions, Vitality Wellness has also focused on building long-term mental health support systems within workplaces. Through its partnership with Zimplats, the organisation has trained 650 mental health First aiders to date.
Ms Tapfuma said the training programme was designed to ensure that support structures remain in place long after awareness campaigns end.
“Awareness is important, but sustainable change comes when organisations build internal capacity. The 650 Male Mental Health First Aiders trained through our partnership with Zimplats are helping to create environments where colleagues can identify warning signs, offer support and encourage professional help-seeking when necessary,” she said.
The Mental Health First Aid training is a certified programme offered by Vitality Wellness in partnership with the Allied Health Professions Council of Zimbabwe. Through this initiative, participants are equipped with skills to recognise signs of mental distress, provide initial support and guide individuals towards appropriate professional care.
Ms Tapfuma said Zimplats has emerged as a national leader in promoting male mental health after establishing a Men’s Forum that provides a safe platform for men to engage in dialogue, share experiences and offer each other psychosocial support.
She noted that such interventions are increasingly important at a time when concerns over men’s mental health continue to grow, with suicide among men reportedly rising significantly over the past five years.
She added that mentally healthy employees contribute to safer workplaces, stronger families and more productive communities.
“When men are mentally well, everybody benefits. We see safer mines, safer workplaces, healthier relationships and stronger families. Mental health is not just an individual issue; it is a workplace, community and national development issue,” said Ms Tapfuma.
She commended Zimplats, Mimosa Mining Company, BancABC Zimbabwe, Saint-Gobain, Norton Anglican Church and Securico Security Services for supporting the initiative and called on more employers to invest in workplace wellness programmes.
“The success of this campaign shows that organisations are ready to be part of the solution. We encourage more employers to join us in creating healthier and more supportive workplaces across Zimbabwe,” she said.
