Support group for men tackles mental health in the North
“I have lost a very close male friend to suicide that gave me a reason to advocate for men’s mental health,” says the organiser.
A local support group wants to help men in the north of Pretoria deal with their mental health.
Resident Vicki Lamprecht said she will be spearheading the free support group for men.
She said men need to come out of the shadows and speak out about anything bothering them.
Leo Dei support group for men is a special haven for men and it offers victims of hurt and trauma an opportunity to talk about their struggles and connect with other men who have been through the same experience without any judgements.
Lamprecht said the sessions will be facilitated by a qualified social worker Magda Vermaak.
“I have lost a very close male friend to suicide that gave me a reason to advocate for men’s mental health,” Lamprecht told Rekord.
“I just felt that if there was more support – specifically for males maybe it could have made a difference for him.
“I have decided that something positive needs to come from his suicide, and his death will not be in vain.”
Lamprecht said many of the heinous acts committed by men are due to untreated trauma or mental health issues.
“We want to bring about change in the lives of men because there are not many resources for males that are struggling with the same issues as our women.
“A lot of men suffer from abuse, depression, addiction, loss of loved ones (trauma), divorce, retrenchments and so forth and they have no one to talk to that’s more reasons we opened our doors to assist them,” she said.
“We must open up to someone so that we heal from things that had been bottled up in us.”
She said the first session will be on Thursday, May 4 from 17:30 to 19:00 at 65 Kameeldoring Ave, CMR Office Wonderboom.
“We will be having one session a week.
“If this support group can make a change in one man’s life I would be a happy woman,” she said.
Lamprecht said the benefits of this support group exclusively for men will be:
– Men can relate to each other
– It is a safe space for them to share whatever they want to – without any judgement
– For men to realise, it is “okay not to be okay”
– Their feelings count and are valid
– New friendships can form
– Personal growth
She said her doors are open for men and she can be contacted at 083 385 2894 or Vickilab01@gmail.com
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