Health 4 Men has called on all stakeholders to urgently prioritize mental health awareness for men, warning that the current focus on women in most health interventions is leaving men behind.
In an interview, Executive Director for Health 4 Men, Victor Chikalongwe, said that while initiatives to address gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health challenges have made important strides for women, they have largely failed to adequately include men.
According to Chikalongwe, most awareness campaigns focus on women, yet men too are silently battling depression, substance abuse, and mental health breakdowns.
The Health4Men organization is of the view that GBV narratives predominantly portray men as perpetrators, ignoring their potential experiences as victims and the mental toll that stigma and exclusion take on them.
Executive Director for Optimum Foundation, a local human rights organization, Chifundo Time, concurred with Chikalongwe’s sentiments, emphasizing that failing to include men in mental health conversations risks perpetuating cycles of violence, substance abuse, and suicide.
“Mental health for men has been marginalized for too long. Creating safe spaces where men can seek help without shame is not just a health issue; it’s a societal necessity,” Chifundo said.
Health 4 Men, whose broader mission is to create supportive environments where men can openly discuss their health issues without fear of stigma, has reaffirmed its commitment to leading the change.
Meanwhile, more reports suggests that men are the primary perpetrators of GBV in Malawi, particularly violence against women and girls. This includes domestic violence, sexual violence, and other forms of abuse.
(By Fegson Phabuli)
