02 Jul 2024

Prompted by the realization that often times society tends not to pay attention to the emotional needs of the male folk, Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, initiated a groundbreaking Pitso ya Borre (Men’s Dialogue) workshop Saturday in Mmankgodi, to provide a safe space for men to discuss issues affecting them.

Addressing attendees, MP Mmusi said he felt it was important for men to come together and share their experiences, since society often treated them as silent, stoic figures. He said it was crucial that men engaged with one another on their personal experiences, health, and their relationships.

MP Mmusi explained that that often men used sports or livestock as conversational shields to avoid getting personal.

However, he said Pitso ya Borre initiative was a bold step towards addressing these issues, bringing together men from all walks of life to engage in a frank and open dialogue with experts on mental health, relationships, and other pressing concerns.

Mr Mmusi underscored the notion that true development meant investing in people and not just infrastructure. “The strength of a nation lies in its people. If we want a prosperous Botswana, we must support the growth and wellbeing of every citizen,” he said adding that the workshop was just one step towards empowering men to be the best they could be for themselves and their children.

In addition, he revealed his ambition to make Pitso ya Borre an annual event, recognizing the pivotal role fathers played in the upbringing of young boys.

Dr Kgomotso Jongman a mental health practitioner from the University of Botswana delved into the concerning statistics surrounding male mental health in Botswana, delivering a sobering message to the workshop attendees.

“Statistics don’t lie, and they paint a grim picture for men in this country,” Dr Jongman stated. He said men under 35-50 years committed suicide at an alarming rate, not because they did not care about life, but because they felt that they could not measure up to society’s expectations or their own standards of success.

Dr Jongman urged men to reflect on their own well-being, emphasizing the importance of mental health. “A life without introspection is a life without meaning. So I ask each of you to pause and truly consider your mental health,” he said.

He revealed that Botswana was losing men, not just to depression and suicide, but also to accidents on the road. He stated that in June this year out of 30 road accidents fatalities, 27 were men hence said, “if we are to turn this tide, we must first recognize that our mental health matters, and then we must be willing to ask for help.”

Dr Jongman indicated that there were five key factors that weighed heavily on a man’s mental health and they included, societal expectations, financial pressures, inability to express emotions, inadequate support networks, and the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Dr Jongman elaborated on these factors, stating that men often felt pressured to be the breadwinner and leaders of their families, leading to feelings of worthlessness when they could not meet those expectations. Financial pressures, Dr Jongman said, often added to the stress on men’s mental health, particularly in a society where men were expected to be the primary earners. “When a man loses his job, suffers a financial setback or is unable to support his family, his sense of self-worth is often tied up in his ability to provide. This can lead to feelings of failure and hopelessness,” he said.

Dr Jongman also pointed out that men often felt that expressing emotions was a sign of weakness, making it harder for them to seek help when struggling emotionally.

He said the next generation of men must learn to express their feelings without fear of judgment.

His message emphasized the importance of shifting societal attitudes towards male mental health, from one of suppression to one of acceptance and understanding. Mr Boysen Mokone, a participant and a man grappling with his past and present, opened up about the guilt he had carried from abandoning his children and failing to disclose their existence to his new family.

His words, thick with regret, spoke to the hidden struggles faced by many men in the community, who carried the weight of their secrets and actions, hindering them from achieving personal growth and fulfillment. ENDS