Health and wellness, fatherhood, abuse, suicide, spirituality, financial well-being, depression and marriage were some of the issues discussed at a men’s dialogue at Mfuleni’s Power Child Centre last Wednesday.
Langa for Men, the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Mosaic, Qula Kwedini, Tswaranang Health and Educational Centre and the Rev MS Lugongolo Foundation were among the organisations represented at the dialogue.
One of the organisers, Buhlebenkosi Msila, from Umthombo Wempilo, a non-profit organisation, said they wanted to prevent crimes committed by men.
“We are of the belief that let us end the silence about men’s mental health and start the conversation. We all know men may feel awkward talking about their feelings and emotions in public, but we have found out that men are perpetrators of most crimes. These conversations are important because we are raising young kids who need to learn from us,” he said.
Few programmes in the past had focussed on men’s issues, he said.
“It is ‘take a girl child to work’. We talk about women empowerment, and there is nothing about boys in terms of empowerment, social empowerment. The unequal distribution of resources that is happening is one of the key factors that fuel some of the things.”
Sergeant Nozipho Maduna, from Mfuleni police station, told the dialogue that the area saw a lot of abuse and domestic violence, and men were responsible for much of it.
“The types of gender-based violence cases caused by men are harassment, verbal abuse, intimidation of the victims.”
Nolusindiso Dyantyi, from the provincial health department, said: “It is very important not to leave men out. If we want to deal with violence, it is very important to start talking to them.”
The dialogue agreed that men should have better access to therapy sessions and counsellors and that clinics, community-based organisations and Cape Mental Health should have more public awareness drives.
