Chronicle Editor
Irene Tshuma, Online Reporter
AN event to equip men with the mental fortitude to fight depression through opening up about their feelings will take place at St. Bernard’s High School in Bulawayo’s Pumula North Suburb on 2 December 2024.
Dubbed ‘Beneath The Surface’ the event is crafted to empower teenage boys and is centred around having real men aware of and speaking about their mental health in a stigma free zone. This means barring all without judgement.
The host of the event Junior Member of Parliament for Pumula Constituency Denzel Giyava, in a statement, said: “As we host this event, we are driven by a profound concern for the wellbeing of men in our community who are disproportionately affected by mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse among others.”
“Most importantly, the whole basis of this issue is encircled around teenage boys who have little or no knowledge about the imperatives that they face today, which affect their ability to manoeuvre on their own futures.”
Worrying statistics that men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women is what drives the initiative.
“Men are less likely to seek help or openly talk about it. This culture of silence of stigma can be devastating and cause severe consequences not only for the individual but also for their friends, families, and the community at large.,” said the Junior MP.
‘Breaking The Silence’ is meant to shine a light on the fact that silence is what kills most men, and hence, they aim to encourage them to look beyond the surface and prioritise their emotional well-being.
“We hope to inspire men to take action, seek help when needed, and support one another in their mental health Journeys. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a cultural shift that values men’s mental health and encourages vulnerability.”
He said that as they organise the event, they are motivated by the desire to challenge these norms and create a safe and supportive environment where teenage boys feel empowered to share their stories, connect with others and secure the opportunity of equality and access resources and support.
“Through a series of presenations, panel discussions, and storytelling sessions, we aim to educate young men about the importance of mental health, provide tools and strategies for managing stress and anxiety.”
Living in a patriarchal society, where men have to be the providers, takes a toll on men’s mental well-being, making one of the agendas of this event be to foster a sense of community among males.
Jnr MP Giyava said in some schools, there are boys who perform poorly academically more than they do in sports because they do not understand the whole ideology of living in a patriarchal society.
“That affects their mental health because they do not know what is more important at the end of the day, which then leads them to feel suicidal because of the inability to unlock their full potential.”
He said there are few institutions in Zimbabwe that support the boy child in terms of mental health, as much as they do the girl child. Hence, the men are overlooked, although they also need support despite ‘being masculine.’
The event takes place during the International 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December every year.
It recognises that men who cannot speak about their feelings may become depressed and prone to mood swings that can result in violence.
Online Reporter