Latest news with #Men'sMentalHealthAwarenessMonth
The Star
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Men's mental health awareness month: Addressing the silent crisis in South Africa
As South Africa and the global community mark Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, the spotlight turns to a disturbing reality: men are overwhelmingly represented in the country's suicide statistics, yet the conversation around their mental health is quiet. According to alarming statistics, South Africa ranks 10th on the list of countries with the most suicides, with international figures reporting in 2022 that 13,774 suicides were reported, 10,861 of them men. This means that men account for nearly 80% of all recorded suicides in the country. This staggering figure raises questions about the societal, psychological, and systemic factors driving so many men to the edge. While the topic of mental health and mental health awareness is something often talked about, the conversation around men's mental health is muted. In many communities, expectations require men to be stoic and strong providers, while discouraging any type of emotional expression and help-seeking. R isk factors for suicide may include unemployment and occupational issues, divorce and adverse childhood experiences. To make matters worse, mental health services in South Africa are underfunded and often inaccessible, especially for those in lower-income communities . Statistics from the World Health Organization reveal that Africa has the highest suicide rate worldwide. It added that this is driven by a combination of factors, including poverty, unemployment, and untreated mental health issues. Men often show symptoms of depression differently from women. Being aware of these warning signs can help save lives. 1. Physical Symptoms: Chest tightness Digestive problems like gas, diarrhoea, and constipation Erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems Headaches Hormonal issues like low testosterone Pain Racing heart or heart palpitations Unintended weight loss (and sometimes weight gain) 2. Mental Symptoms: Inability to concentrate Memory problems Obsessive-compulsive thought patterns Racing thoughts Sleep issues (especially trouble falling or staying asleep) Suicidal thoughts
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. I spoke to people who have seen boys and men silently struggle. When people think of depression, they typically think of sadness, specific language, or isolation, but in boys and men, it could look different. 'They may be more irritated. They may show a lot of aggression, a lot of anger, and so forth,' said Dominique Bond, School Counselor. 'So, these are some things that we can look for as well to really that can be some warning signs.' Marci Tankersley lost her brother to suicide. She tells me she never saw signs of him struggling with his mental health. 'The suicide rate in men is way higher than women, and I think that's why because they were never taught to express their emotions,' said Marci Tankersley, Mental Health Advocate. 'So that's the way my brother was raised. That's the way I mean so many men were raised, and my brother committed suicide when he was 21 years old. So, I don't remember him talking about anything. I didn't think he was depressed. But I do know now that he was, and he was silently struggling.' Mental health experts say the stigma that men can't show emotion makes it hard for them to express their feelings. 'Men need to really challenge their understanding of masculinity, and one of our understands of masculinity, which is very outdated, is that we are strong. We got it ourselves; we just got to tough it out, but in reality, we just have to address it,' said Bond. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention aims to raise awareness through its 'Out of the Darkness' Walk in October. If you are struggling with mental health, you can also call the Suicide Hotline at 9-8-8. 'That tragedy and loss affects so many people down the line, The parents, the siblings. I just it can be, we can turn this thing around,' said Tankersley. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Men's mental health awareness month: Addressing the silent crisis in South Africa
As South Africa and the global community mark Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, the spotlight turns to a disturbing reality: men are overwhelmingly represented in the country's suicide statistics, yet the conversation around their mental health is quiet. According to alarming statistics, South Africa ranks 10th on the list of countries with the most suicides, with international figures reporting in 2022 that 13,774 suicides were reported, 10,861 of them men. This means that men account for nearly 80% of all recorded suicides in the country. This staggering figure raises questions about the societal, psychological, and systemic factors driving so many men to the edge. While the topic of mental health and mental health awareness is something often talked about, the conversation around men's mental health is muted. In many communities, expectations require men to be stoic and strong providers, while discouraging any type of emotional expression and help-seeking. Risk factors for suicide may include unemployment and occupational issues, divorce and adverse childhood experiences. To make matters worse, mental health services in South Africa are underfunded and often inaccessible, especially for those in lower-income communities. Statistics from the World Health Organization reveal that Africa has the highest suicide rate worldwide. It added that this is driven by a combination of factors, including poverty, unemployment, and untreated mental health issues.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NAMI to host movie night at UPMC Park this Friday
Enjoy a free movie at UPMC Park this Friday night. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Erie County is hosting a free Mental Health Movie in the Park night on Friday, June 13. They will be showing Inside Out 2 at 8:00 p.m., with admission beginning at 7:00 p.m. Men's Mental Health Awareness Month aims to stop stigma of seeking professional health The goal of this event is to raise awareness for mental health among children and adults in an open and friendly environment. Guests can bring blankets and lawn chairs and watch the movie on the field. There will also be vendors, informational resources, giveaways and more. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
MTV Lebanon
10-06-2025
- Health
- MTV Lebanon
Real Men Don't Cry
In Lebanon, boys grow up hearing the same message on repeat: be strong, be silent, don't fall apart. As they grow into men, the expectations only grow heavier. Provide for your family, protect them, and never show weakness. But what happens when the world shifts and those expectations become impossible to meet? After years of political instability, economic collapse, and emotional strain, many Lebanese men are silently crumbling under pressure. June, Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, is a crucial time to break that silence. In an exclusive interview with MTV Website, psychiatrist Elina Dirani sheds light on the emotional weight men carry in a society that rarely allows them to speak. 'We live in a culture where a man is expected to be the provider and protector,' Dirani explains. 'That mindset shaped how men see themselves. They live to give and fix, often putting their needs last.' But after years of crises, that role has become impossible for many. Financial stability is gone. Personal security feels out of reach. Men are losing their footing, unable to live up to a role they were taught to fulfill. The pressure is breaking them down. The Stigma of Vulnerability 'Men are allowed to be angry, but not sad. Irritated, but not anxious. Vulnerability is mistaken for weakness,' Dirani explains. 'But mental health doesn't mean mental illness.' Women are often given space to express emotions, cry, and seek help. Men rarely receive that permission. Many don't know how to label or express their feelings. A man who cries is seen as less masculine. But vulnerability is not weakness. It is honesty. Even heroes get tired. What Mental Struggles Look Like in Men Men often show depression through anger, irritability, or impulsiveness rather than sadness. Road rage, shouting, or shutting down can be signs of deeper pain. 'Addiction, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder are more common in men,' Dirani adds. 'And because society finds it more acceptable for men to smoke or drink to relax, these behaviors often go unnoticed or even encouraged.' She also highlights media influence. Alcohol ads often show confident men drinking and becoming more attractive or powerful. 'These images reinforce the idea that confidence comes from substances,' she says. Even gifts reflect this: alcohol for men, flowers or sweets for women. The Damage of 'Man Up' Culture Phrases like 'real men don't cry' or 'be strong' do more harm than we think. 'They create internal conflict,' Dirani says. 'Men feel emotions but are told to ignore them. That suppression builds up as stress, anger, or numbness.' To heal, men must first recognize and process their feelings. If taught to suppress emotion from childhood, how can they ever recover from pain? 'What doesn't kill you leaves marks,' she adds. 'Yes, hardship teaches us, but only if we allow ourselves to feel. That's not weakness. That's growth.' Creating Space for Healing Talking about mental health doesn't create problems. It solves them. Safe spaces help people feel seen and understood without judgment. Change starts at home. 'Educating parents is essential,' Dirani says. 'Most beliefs about masculinity are passed down from family. Shifting that mindset begins with how we raise boys.' Men are encouraged to speak up about what bothers them early, exercise regularly to calm the brain, build stable routines, take guilt-free time for themselves, and learn to express emotions. Behind every strong father, brother, son, and friend is a human being who deserves support, love, and understanding. It's time to move beyond the outdated belief that strength means silence. If you're tired, that's okay. If you're struggling, it's okay to speak up. True strength lies not in bottling things up but in knowing when to reach out. Men matter. You matter. And we're here to listen.
