Generation Gender South African Coalition to Respond to the High Levels of Suicide Amongst Men
November is globally celebrated as International Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, in view of this, a South African Coalition partnership programme called Generation Gender (G), hosted a mental health Imbizo at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Imbizo aimed to address the pressing issue of escalating male suicide rates, promote better mental health among men, and empower men to become allies in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
According to the South Africa Society of Psychiatrists report, South Africa is ranked number 10 on the list of countries with the most suicides with 23.5 suicides per 100,000 people with men leading the numbers.
Human rights are fundamental when advocating for and claiming gender justice and fighting gender-based violence (GBV), discrimination, and exclusion. There must be the support of practices or processes that hold duty bearers (such as state actors, teachers, health workers, and police) accountable to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights and enable rights holders to denounce human rights violations.
In South Africa, there has been an increase in men-centred organisations and other structures that seek to bridge the gap between factors that isolate men vis-a-vis their mental health problems and help-seeking behaviour. Men who need mental health support are able to access a myriad of platforms.
Coalition response to high levels of suicide
Adding to the resource of aid, the Generation G South Africa coalition Imbizo themed, ‘Men at work’ – toward the redress of the stigma attached to mental health and the empowerment of men in their full diversity with mental health tools towards being effective allies toward the end of Gender-Based Violence, had comedian and filmmaker, David Kau as the master of ceremonies a Keynote addressed by artist and author, Dr. Jerry Mofokeng.
Reflecting on the need for the Imbizo, Dr. Jerry Mofokeng said, “We put our heads in the sand, and we hide. We don’t go to conferences or workshops or get counselling or read so any platform that is offered where men can talk to each other and not be talked to, excites me.”
“At the age of 14, I lost sight in one eye, so I have been seeing life with one eye for 53 years since 1970. I also had a spine operation that almost paralyzed me, and I live with that scar. Healing first happens in the head and not the body”, he adds.
The imbizo also had a mental health master class and dialogue with the Gentlemen’s Clinic, where experts from a men’s clinic and podcast discussed critical health issues affecting men.
The 2019 World Health Report indicated that from the 13 774 suicides reported in South Africa, 10 861 were among men. The Imbizo provided a safe and practical environment for men in their full diversity to gather and participate in mental health interventions to capacitate them with knowledge and practical tools they can use to address mental health problems and become effective allies toward the end of Gender-Based Violence.
Activities to redress stigma attached to talking about mental health
To unpack the high rate of male suicides the Imbizo also had café sessions led by Boys2Men programme founder, Nick Nzama, Founder of the Cool Dads Foundation, Bongani Luvalo, artivist, Siv Ngesi, artist and author Ntsikelelo Mzimbomvu, and NotInMyName Internationals CEO, Siyabulela Jentile, during the cafes, the men gathered in groups to explore interventions for mental health, destigmatise mental health discussions and engage in creative activities.
There was also a self-care corner led by artivist Siv Ngesi and grooming activities from Sorbet Man-Kyalami, to highlight the importance of self-care as an intervention to combat mental health issues.
Reflecting on his involvement at the Imbizo, Siv Ngesi says that men tend to suffer in silence and that a culture of checking in on people should be fostered locally.
“We need safe spaces for men to be able to talk and be listened to. We need spaces where men can be men and the problem in society is not masculinity or men but rather toxic masculinity”, Siv Ngesi remarks.
“When a man shows emotions, he shouldn’t be ridiculed or reduced to a meme, “we should normalize showing men crying and show content on social media on TV of strong men crying. The saying the big boys don’t cry is actually bull****. The strongest of men cry and they cry because of closed doors”, Ngesi adds.
Studies indicate linkages between men’s mental health and their perpetration of Gender-Based Violence. Men’s mental health issues have previously been swept under the carpet or dismissed as signs of weakness, however, there is a growing need for men, and society as a whole, to take a different approach.
——————————-
Article References:
https://www.sasop.co.za/mens-health
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/MHF-tackling-inequalities-report.pdf
——————————-
About Generation G:
Generation G is a global program implemented in seven countries, including South Africa, to create gender-just and violence-free communities for young people in their full diversity. The Generation G South African Coalition comprises three partner organisations: Sonke Gender Justice, and ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, and ActionAid South Africa, working together to advance the objectives of the Generation G program in South Africa.
——————————-
About the author
Zamayirha Peter is an Advocacy Communications Specialist with over eight (8) years of experience in multimedia journalism and communications. Her passion is using development communications to contribute to the advancement and empowerment of communities particularly the youth, across the continent and influence global conversations through using strategic communication tools.
According to the South Africa Society of Psychiatrists report, South Africa is ranked number 10 on the list of countries with the most suicides with 23.5 suicides per 100,000 people with men leading the numbers.
Human rights are fundamental when advocating for and claiming gender justice and fighting gender-based violence (GBV), discrimination, and exclusion. There must be the support of practices or processes that hold duty bearers (such as state actors, teachers, health workers, and police) accountable to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights and enable rights holders to denounce human rights violations.
In South Africa, there has been an increase in men-centred organisations and other structures that seek to bridge the gap between factors that isolate men vis-a-vis their mental health problems and help-seeking behaviour. Men who need mental health support are able to access a myriad of platforms.
Coalition response to high levels of suicide
Adding to the resource of aid, the Generation G South Africa coalition Imbizo themed, ‘Men at work’ – toward the redress of the stigma attached to mental health and the empowerment of men in their full diversity with mental health tools towards being effective allies toward the end of Gender-Based Violence, had comedian and filmmaker, David Kau as the master of ceremonies a Keynote addressed by artist and author, Dr. Jerry Mofokeng.
Reflecting on the need for the Imbizo, Dr. Jerry Mofokeng said, “We put our heads in the sand, and we hide. We don’t go to conferences or workshops or get counselling or read so any platform that is offered where men can talk to each other and not be talked to, excites me.”
“At the age of 14, I lost sight in one eye, so I have been seeing life with one eye for 53 years since 1970. I also had a spine operation that almost paralyzed me, and I live with that scar. Healing first happens in the head and not the body”, he adds.
The imbizo also had a mental health master class and dialogue with the Gentlemen’s Clinic, where experts from a men’s clinic and podcast discussed critical health issues affecting men.
The 2019 World Health Report indicated that from the 13 774 suicides reported in South Africa, 10 861 were among men. The Imbizo provided a safe and practical environment for men in their full diversity to gather and participate in mental health interventions to capacitate them with knowledge and practical tools they can use to address mental health problems and become effective allies toward the end of Gender-Based Violence.
Activities to redress stigma attached to talking about mental health
To unpack the high rate of male suicides the Imbizo also had café sessions led by Boys2Men programme founder, Nick Nzama, Founder of the Cool Dads Foundation, Bongani Luvalo, artivist, Siv Ngesi, artist and author Ntsikelelo Mzimbomvu, and NotInMyName Internationals CEO, Siyabulela Jentile, during the cafes, the men gathered in groups to explore interventions for mental health, destigmatise mental health discussions and engage in creative activities.
There was also a self-care corner led by artivist Siv Ngesi and grooming activities from Sorbet Man-Kyalami, to highlight the importance of self-care as an intervention to combat mental health issues.
Reflecting on his involvement at the Imbizo, Siv Ngesi says that men tend to suffer in silence and that a culture of checking in on people should be fostered locally.
“We need safe spaces for men to be able to talk and be listened to. We need spaces where men can be men and the problem in society is not masculinity or men but rather toxic masculinity”, Siv Ngesi remarks.
“When a man shows emotions, he shouldn’t be ridiculed or reduced to a meme, “we should normalize showing men crying and show content on social media on TV of strong men crying. The saying the big boys don’t cry is actually bull****. The strongest of men cry and they cry because of closed doors”, Ngesi adds.
Studies indicate linkages between men’s mental health and their perpetration of Gender-Based Violence. Men’s mental health issues have previously been swept under the carpet or dismissed as signs of weakness, however, there is a growing need for men, and society as a whole, to take a different approach.
——————————-
Article References:
https://www.sasop.co.za/mens-health
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/MHF-tackling-inequalities-report.pdf
——————————-
About Generation G:
Generation G is a global program implemented in seven countries, including South Africa, to create gender-just and violence-free communities for young people in their full diversity. The Generation G South African Coalition comprises three partner organisations: Sonke Gender Justice, and ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, and ActionAid South Africa, working together to advance the objectives of the Generation G program in South Africa.
——————————-
About the author
Zamayirha Peter is an Advocacy Communications Specialist with over eight (8) years of experience in multimedia journalism and communications. Her passion is using development communications to contribute to the advancement and empowerment of communities particularly the youth, across the continent and influence global conversations through using strategic communication tools.
Responses