By Michelle Hammann

Men who are struggling with their mental health seek treatment less often than women. This is in part due to the ongoing stigma against men who ask for mental health support. At the North-West University (NWU), Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month in June is centred around making male students and staff aware of how they can ask for support and whom they can approach.

The NWU Students Advocating Leadership and Transformation (SALT) organisation is located at Thuso in Building E14 on the Potchefstroom Campus. It is a part of Student Counselling and Development, and any student can use these services free of charge.

NWU SALT chairperson Olimpus Engetelo Mabaso is passionate about helping students take part in mental health discussions to improve their well-being.

“In our society, men’s mental health is neglected compared to that of women. This month is about encouraging men to speak up and to use the services available to them,” he said.

The dedicated NWU 24-Hour Student Helpline is run by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), through which all students can access counselling and referrals via either a WhatsApp chatline 087 163 2050 (from 08:00 to 17:00) or a 24/7 helpline at 0800 128 431 with free telephonic support.

The organisation has over 200 free support groups nationwide and does crisis intervention as well as follow-up calls. This remote method of support is especially beneficial for students who do not feel comfortable talking to counsellors in person, as well as for when students are not on campus during recess.

Students can also go to reception at E14 or contact Thuso on 018 299 1777, after which they will be referred to a counsellor according to the support they need. This includes a one-on-one chat with a counsellor at Thuso to help students feel comfortable sharing what they need help with.

“Asking for help does not make you less of a man. It shows that you are a brave man because you received support instead of letting circumstances negatively impact your life,” Olimpus said.

Hershel Meyerowitz, NWU lecturer with an MA in Clinical Psychology, stated that mental health is one of the areas that people do not see, although it is a very important part of everyone’s lives. This month is needed to emphasise awareness to make it more visible, specifically for men who often overlook this area of their lives.

“Societal expectations have changed over the past few years, but there is still a standard notion that men need to be strong, tough and able to get things done without talking about emotions,” he said.

Often, men believe that they cannot talk about their feelings, especially when they are struggling, due to how they think they will be perceived by others. Hershel stated that this leads to men internalising the idea that they should handle all issues themselves as it is “the manly thing to do”.

Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is important, as men need to know that it is okay to admit that they are struggling and it is not healthy to internalise their issues. This only makes it worse. When men are aware that they should talk to someone about their situations and get advice on how to deal with specific issues such as stress, they can truly improve their mental health.

Hershel explains this with the analogy of a car that is giving you problems.

“When the ‘check engine’ light of your car comes on, you know to take it to a mechanic to get fixed. If you do not have it fixed immediately it will lead to bigger problems and can cause the car to break down. Mental health can be seen in the same way. If you keep ignoring your feelings, stress or work too hard without seeking support, you yourself might break down, which is much more difficult to go through.”

Mario Chauque, NWU SALT student wellness coordinator, says that the uptake at Thuso for male students who seek mental health support is very low.

“Counselling has nothing to do with weakness. It is no different from just speaking to someone. The only way for us to help you is if you talk to us about what you are going through,” he said.

NWU SALT hosts various events throughout the year, including unfiltered discussions, and ensures that men’s mental health awareness is practised for far longer than only June. Their next mental health event for male students will be on 24 August at the Totius Hall at F6. It will focus on money and relationships and how they can navigate their mental health as men in terms of financial stress and their relationships with others.

For more information about upcoming NWU SALT events and timeslots, follow the organisation on the NWU SALT Instagram page.