Andrew
Comfort Mhaka
SOCIETY should reconstruct its perceptions of gender roles and promote mental health wellness among men and boys, a local organisation has said.
Speaking at the launch of the programme “Mentoring the boy child” in Harare on Friday, director of Safety n Us Trust Ms Lucia Mutsvedu said there is need to develop a culture that positively responds to boys and men’s emotional needs.
“The programme ‘Mentoring the boy child’ provides the boy child with help and advice. It seeks to minimise the rates of suicide and depression by the boy child by moulding them to be better men.”
She said there is need to promote equality in homes and schools, and ensure boys receive equal attention as girls.
“We want to reconstruct our social beliefs. We need to redo what we have always said about the boy child, for instance, that he is strong and should not cry when he is hurt.
“When you are hurt, you are bound to be affected emotionally and it also influences social life, especially in this 21st Century. As the Safety n Us Trust, it’s now high time we give attention to what we call the forgotten gender by having programmes that will benefit boys.”
Speaking at the same event, Richard Chimusoro, a Form Three student at Hatcliffe High School, applauded the initiative. “It is a good programme that helps boys open up and prevent depression and suicide.”
This year, Zimbabwe has seen an increase in suicide cases of men and boys due to depression and mental health issues.
Online Reporter