13 Nov 2024

The month of November is central to men’s health awareness on suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer.  

November is also a reminder for everyone to prioritise men’s physical and mental health.

Commonly referred to as ‘Movember, it is the month where men are also encouraged to grow their beards as a way of raising awareness on men’s health issues. 

Team Leader at Men and Boys for Gender equality, Mr Desmond Lunga said in an interview that it was important for the nation to recognise November as a month to educate and motivate men to take their health serious, especially their mental wellbeing. 

He said it was befitting to up awareness on men’s mental health as there were a lot of cases of men with mental breakdown and illnesses.

Mr Lunga said the rate in which men commited suicide was disturbing.

“The rate at which men commit suicide is really concerning and it has gone to the extent of killing their children as well as their partners,” he said.

“November is an important time to reach out to as many men as possible to allow them to reflect on their physical and mental health,” he added. 

Mr Lunga said Men Sector organisation had diverse campaigns they used to encourage men to take their mental health issues serious.

He said they had visited places like Ramotswa and Artesia where they addressed men on mental health. 

“We also have programmes that are currently running like ‘One man can’, ‘Brothers arise’ which encourages men to test for HIV and be part of the solution for ending GBV,” he said.

 He said they had used platforms such as the radio and social media to reach out to men.

At Men and Boys, he said they offered men free counselling, which they could just book an appointment at their offices in Gaborone and Ghazi. 

He also said they had sessions where they taught men about self-love and availed other information relevant to their well being. 

Dr Zoran Zoric, a senior psychiatrist at a Private Psychiatric Clinic in Gaborone, stressed the importance of communication, saying for generations, societal cultures encouraged men to be ‘strong’ and not admit they were struggling.

She said men were less likely to admit when they felt vulnerable, whether to themselves or friends, and would be more withdrawn than women. 

“It often starts in childhood. We tell boys that they don’t cry, we condition them from a very young age to not express emotions; how we talk to our children and how we encourage them to communicate about themselves matters also,” said Dr Zoric.

Therefore, she said individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts should always talk to someone, such as a trusted friend, family member, doctor or mental health professional.

The Doctor said research had shown that suicide was prevalent in men and it was increasing at an alarming rate, adding that suicide was a hugely sensitive, complex issue with a tangled multitude of causes.

However, she said suicide was preventable, with immediate help and professional treatment, citing that people could learn to deal with their thoughts and manage their symptoms.  ENDS