“True strength is asking for help”
This Movember, Melusi Ngwenya is challenging men to confront societal pressures, prioritise their health, and embrace holistic wellbeing.
“Social and cultural conditioning make men suffer,” says Melusi Ngwenya, a life coach and founder of uMelusi Osizabantu, a Boksburg-based organisation dedicated to mental health awareness, youth mentorship, family support, and community development.
His words highlight the silent crisis among men grappling with emotional, mental, and physical health struggles, often endured alone and hidden behind facades of strength and stoicism.
“Men carry invisible burdens, stress, anxiety, depression, and untreated illnesses – all amplified by societal expectations that they ‘man up’ and never show weakness. These pressures can be deadly in their subtlety,” he explained, emphasising that too many men suffer quietly.
“They ignore symptoms, postpone check-ups, and bury their emotions because society tells them that vulnerability equals failure..”
As a life coach, Ngwenya has spent years mentoring young people and guiding families, teaching resilience, emotional intelligence, and life skills.
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Through uMelusi Osizabantu, he and his team provide family mediation, life coaching, mentorship, and motivational programmes for young people in schools, as well as mental health and wellness initiatives that include meditation and yoga.
Yet, Melusi recognised the pressing need to include men in the conversation about their own health.
“Health is holistic. A man who ignores his mental and emotional well-being is just as vulnerable as one who neglects his body. True strength lies in acknowledging your struggles and seeking help. That is courage.”
This Movember, Melusi is calling on men to take action.
“Movember is more than a moustache; it’s a movement, and a chance for men to speak, to listen, and to act. It’s about reclaiming life, health, and well-being.
“Break the silence, schedule your health screenings, talk about your struggles, and embrace your well-being. Strength is not enduring alone; it is choosing to care for yourself,” he urged.
Also Read: Pressing need to address mental health stigma in SA
