Men urged to debunk stereotypes in the fight against suicide
Providence Moyo
Men need to challenge stereotypes associated with the male gender in order to curb suicide cases, which are on the rise in Zimbabwe, an expert on men’s issues has said.
In an exclusive with Community Podium, founder of Men’s Mental Health, Makhosi Sibanda attributed most men’s suicide cases to the “tough” stereotype that men are raised to espouse.Sibanda said such dangerous notions must be nipped in the bud to prevent needless fatalaties.
“Men need to appreciate and acknowledge that they are going through pain and not try to live up to and pander to societal expectations and conceptions whereby a man is expected to be “macho” and face every situation head-on. Some situations warrant one to speak out and share challenges and seek help which is a culture that should be inculcated in men because history has shown us that if issues are bottled up they usually erupt uncontrollably leading to suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Reports of an upsurge in men’s cases of suicide are disheartening given that they can be avoided,” he said.
Sibanda noted that the world is evolving with the fight for equality and women empowerment escalating. In response to this reality, Sibanda advised the masculine gender to step up, challenge, and educate each other on how to handle the tide.
“In some relationships women hold all the cards financially which puts the man under extreme pressure to prove himself or try to overtake the woman and when they fail in that regard they see themselves as failures and carry the burden of being a ‘looser” which is fertile ground for suicide.”
As part of efforts to provide a support system for men under stress, a collective of men’s mental health campaigners led by award winning artist Mzo7 have established a deliberative platform #MajidaLetsTalk to encourage men to speak about their problems and find possible solutions.
This response platform includes a Whatsapp support group for men, which facilitates for men to talk through issues, receive counseling and moral support, as well as try to come up with solutions to the myriad of challenges they face.
Local artists like Mzoe7, Luminous, The Shoemaker, and Emmanuel Nkomo of Djembe Monks are part of the team that has been producing ‘Men’s Conference’ podcasts, discussing different issues affecting men’s health and wellbeing.
Those who wish to join the Whatsapp support group can register by sending a message to 0771039549.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Bulawayo is on record, saying there is a concerning rise in suicide cases of men in the city. Last week, at least four men committed suicide in Bulawayo.
In one incident, an unidentified body was found in a decomposing state and was discovered by a passerby hanging on a tree near Woza Woza Shopping Center at Emakhandeni.
On the same day, another body of a 28 year old man Micheal Gonye was discovered by the deceased’s father who had left home on the previous day and came came back home at night and proceeded to his room and slept. In the morning, he went to Gonye’s room and found it locked from inside, which forced the father to break open the door to find Gonye hanging from the roof truss.
