Katekani community project helps local men
“Most men and boys who have mental health pressure end up victimising others or committing suicide.”
A local community project wants to provide much-needed emotional support to men and boys in Mabopane, Winterveldt and Ga-Rankuwa.
This comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a global suicide statistics report indicating that the majority of suicides in South Africa in 2019 were men.
Katekani community project’s programme manager, Thabang Leshabana, said the organisation was implementing a victim empowerment programme for both men and boys.
“The purpose of the programme is to give men and boys a platform to talk about issues that concern them,” he said.
“The programme is positively impacting men and boys by helping them with psychosocial support.
“Some of the services we offer include one-on-one counselling, group counselling, men’s dialogues and more.”
Leshabana said most men and boys who have mental health pressure end up victimising others or committing suicide.
“The programme has got 20 staff members made up of the programme manager, social worker, social auxiliary workers and community field workers.
“We have realised that there is no organisation that offers such support services to men and boys in the area.”
Leshabana said unemployment and poverty are the main feeders of mental health problems.
“Toxic masculinity, societal expectations and societal norms are the main instigators of human rights violation in the society,” he said.
Leshabana said it was vital that men and boys seek consultation for mental health and when they experience difficulties.
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