Mental health is a global challenge that cuts across borders, cultures, and socio economic origins. In recent years, the conversation on mental health in Africa has gained popularity, bringing light to the continent's different nations' struggles and prospects. Mental health issues have been on the rise among men in the African community. The ingestion of masculine standards among men has been found to make them more predisposed to mental health problems in Africa. Societal construction and role theories are employed to investigate the connection between masculine norms and mental health in African men.
According to the authors, males express limited emotionality through defense mechanisms by hiding their mental health issues and status owing to traditional and cultural views. As a result, an inclusive approach to counseling was proposed that deals with men's traditional values to promote help-seeking behavior while making them less vulnerable to mental health problems.
Societal norms on males that affect their mental health
It is said, "Boys don't cry, and men do not shed tears“ This is related to African culture as a reflection of what culture expects of men in ordinary chaotic, or difficult circumstances. This saying is supported by data indicating boys are more likely to die in their first year of life than their female counterparts .Men have a tendency to often negotiate social position and power over their health practices, which have multiple consequences. In trying to understand how masculine norms and mental health among African men relate, one has to consider how it is culturally and societal shaped.
According to Boahene African society considers proverbs as a source of cultural and social wisdom since they socially build gender roles that are conceptually established. While mentioning the patriarchal structure, the author additionally implied that proverbs were used to glorify men and worsen women's dominance. Although the author did not take into consideration other puzzles such as personality, experience, and customized meaning attributed to such proverbs and quotations by the narrator, we suggest that the function of how moral norms are communicated and upheld is conditioned on what society regulations. Thus, whether the expected behavior is healthy or not, a guy would be and act like a man within the boundaries of societal standards.
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Masculine norm concerning men's health status
In reference to Amarachi, the role play assumption is that it does not take into account the actor's behavioral or emotional fatigue which leads to role conflict and diminished mental health. In this setting, role conflict develops when work or social role demands are conflicting with the family's desired role. Mothers, for instance, may expect their spouse to discipline their male child/ren regardless of whether they have had a busy day or understand how serious or mildness of the child's crime.
Although the mother is not immune from parental discipline, the role theory assumes that men should take an active role in enforcing proper discipline within the family. It proposes that while men are making an effort to fulfill these expected roles, their mental health is put at risk not only by society, which expects them to act in a stipulated capacity but also by the actor himself (the male figure), who may be guilty of not stepping up in the expected capacity when called upon for expected father or uncle duties. According to Boahene's narrative of African proverbs and their role attribution, males must be strong in the face of challenges and obstacles regardless of whether or not they have the mental capacity to do so. This notion has caused the boy child to hide issues affecting their mental status.
Other issues affecting mental health
Depression is one of the most common illnesses globally. Traditional ideologies and masculine ideas in African culture characterize men as bold, admirable, empathetic, and strong, and hence men must not be illogical or emotional in the face of hardships or overwhelming circumstances. This concept is supported by the concept that the African male or female does not suffer from depression this equates to the belief that Africans do not have mental health issues. For instance, depression among blacks was considered a sign of emotional weakness, and people who demonstrate helplessness, worthlessness, or hopelessness which are basic signs of depression are deemed cowards.
This is overly unfair to the male gender. African males who are living in poor conditions are being viewed as undesirable by their female counter-parts. This forces them to carry out outrageous activities to acquire the much-needed commodity of exchange; money. These activities predispose them to dangerous health risks like HIV/AIDS. Poverty eradication can help males reduce reckless conduct and mental health issues. Last but not least stigmatization. This has reduced the tendency for African males to get help. A male figure who accepts that their mental status is affected is viewed as weak.
The way forward for this menace among African males includes creating awareness. Awareness can be raised through commercials and campaigns such as the Real Depression campaign, which focuses on at-risk demographics first and subsequently the general public. Reduce biasness. Both males and females can go through mental illnesses. It should not be viewed as a weakness in males.
The mental health status of males should be held with utmost importance
Men, according to psychologist Martin Etisi, are prone to disregarding messages from the side of the brain that alert the body to physical and psychological discomfort. He claims that men frequently pick or recall only the positive while giving little or no attention to the negative, including mental illness. As a result, be your brother's keeper and constantly provide a safe place for our brothers to express themselves without fear of being condemned.
References
- Masculine norms and mental health in African men: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7734219/#:~:text=In%20Africa%2C%20internalisation%20of%20masculine,health%20among%20men%20in%20Africa
- The silent mental health crisis of men: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjgh/2023/10/22/the-silent-mental-health-crisis-among-men-in-uganda/#:~:text=Mental%20health%20remains%20a%20topic,when%20facing%20mental%20health%20challenges.
- Proverbs and masculinity in Africa: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/9/3/22
(This article was written by Grace Chao who is a Kenyan passionate writer.)
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