Community Cohesion - a non-profit organisation that empowers communities through therapeutic intervention, advocacy, and education - encourages men to maximise their wellbeing during Men’s Health Awareness Month this November.

Through its Men’s Intervention Programme, the organisation offers men a way to share their experiences and difficulties.

The organisation’s therapeutic social worker and project manager of the Men’s Intervention Programme, Dr Niccoh Diago, said the programme offered community support and interaction, therapeutic and educational programmes, individual counselling and emotional support, social and life skills, anger management, violence prevention, and mentoring.

The services, he said, were available in Hout Bay, Ocean View, and Masiphumelele.

The Men's Intervention Programme, part of the South African National Integrated Men's Health Strategy 2020-2025, an initiative from the national Department of Health, offers men a chance to explore proactive problem-solving without blame.

“It also gives men a forum to express their emotions and talk about the underlying causes of unresolved trauma. It is crucial to recognise that people who seek counselling are the most psychologically healthy,” said Dr Diago, adding that those people wanted to improve their mental health and overall wellbeing.

He said people who avoided therapy out of fear and stigma ought to think twice because it was unhealthy to handle trauma and adversity on one’s own.

“It is no longer necessary for men to use drugs and alcohol to treat their depression,” he said adding that the Men’s Intervention Programme should be used instead.

“The idea that men’s only acceptable emotions are violence and anger needs to change because it not only costs men their lives but also has a negative impact on their families and society at large,” he said.

According to the SA Federation for Mental Health, men often face the expectation to remain strong and silent in the face of extraordinarily difficult challenges, leading to some shocking and dangerous mental health statistics.

According to the South African Society of Psychiatrists, in 2019, around 13 774 mental health-related deaths, such as suicide, substance abuse, chronic diseases, neglect and malnutrition, were reported in South Africa of which 10 861 (approximately 79%) were men.

Mayoral committee member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross said there had been a 15% decline in men attending clinics for health visits across all age categories.

She said mental health statistics showed that the incidence of common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety was on the increase, including suicide among young adults and men.

“We need to shift perceptions around seeking professional help for mental health matters, but also taking responsibility for our health through positive lifestyle changes, like eating healthy foods, exercising, and avoiding substances like alcohol and drugs,” she said.

During the 2023/2024 financial year, she said, 1 101 765 men attended City clinics, compared to 1 294 229 the previous year.

She said heart disease, tuberculosis and diabetes were among the leading causes of death in men.

However, trends showed that younger men between the ages of 18 to 40 were being diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes due, in part, to lifestyle factors.

Other health issues that men should be aware of and have checked if they had any concerns were cardiovascular disease, testicular cancer, prostate disease, including benign disease, HIV, and non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma.

“All men should know their HIV status. HIV cannot be cured but can be controlled with medication,” she said.

For more information, visit your nearest City clinic and to find out more about Community Cohesion’s Men’s Intervention Programme, WhatsApp, call or SMS 067 289 6945.

Community Cohesion’s therapeutic social worker and project manager of the Men’s Intervention Programme Dr Niccoh Diago at a workshop in the Masiphumelele community centre.

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