A group of men discussed the challenges they face.
In an effort to encourage men to talk openly about issues relating to their health, the Ibuyamba organisation, in partnership with the Phindile Mtonga Foundation, held a dialogue in Khayelitsha on Saturday November 23.
The event was aimed at highlighting challenges that prevent men from talking about issues which affect their mental health and provide a space for them to speak up.
Ibuyambo NPO founder, Amanda Gxagxa, described men as ticking time bombs which could explode at any given time and said something needed to be done to help them destress and heal.
Ms Gxagxa said scores of men are suffering from mental health problems and they are not aware of it but the symptoms are shown by their actions especially towards women and children.
She said they wanted black men especially from the township to seek help and talk about their mental health openly and not be ashamed.
She believes that there is a lot that needs to be done to heal our men and hopefully change their behavior towards women and children.
“Our culture states that men do not cry and that leads to many men bottling up their emotions.
“I think that this statement must be changed because men are human beings as well and have emotions too. Men are not iron objects.
“We must create an environment whereby men are able to freely express their emotions without fearing of being judged and ridiculed.
‘’I believe that if we could address many of these issues which men are battling with then we can have a safer society and community for women and children,” she said.
Ms Gxagxa said they hope that through the event they were able to learn of men's challenges and now they will work in ensuring that men know where to seek help for mental health.
Mr Mtonga said this was important during November, which is known as Movember, a campaign that addresses men’s health issues.
He said they wanted to have a roundtable discussion and confront each other as men and speak about challenges with the aim of finding solutions.
He said a thousand steps started with a single step and they have just started on this journey.
He called on other organisations to work together in ensuring that they collectively bring about the necessary change in our communities.
He said it cannot be right that as men they keep quiet while their friends and relatives abuse their spouses and children.
The event was attended by police officers Sergeant Lwando Tsilana and Sergeant Tembinkosi Mapongwana who urged men to always work with police and not take the law into their own hands
Related Topics: