Devan Moonsamy 

The 10th of October marks World Mental Health Day. The day is set aside to raise awareness on global mental health education and to advocate against the stigma around mental health issues. The discussion around mental health issues has been largely tabled in most organisations. Infact, many businesses are even engaging in the dialogue around it regularly and not just in this month. Workshops, seminars and training is hosted on how to manage mental health in the workplace. 

As much as there are steps being taken to address issues around the topic, the conversation is not an easy one to have. In most organisations the conversation might be easier for woman, but there might be some hesitation and challenges for men to discuss their concerns with their mental health. For either gender, the conversation is not an easy one to have yet more woman might open up instead of men. The challenges with mental health are not with one specific gender, department or office and it is for this reason that mental health needs to be discussed with all. 

However, we need to start focusing on the impact mental health issues have on men who do not deal with their issues. A stressful job, missing deadlines, working with toxic managers in a toxic work environment, could be fuelling the unresolved and undiagnosed mental health issues that some men face in the work place. 

Let us look at some of the possible reasons men might be struggling with their mental health. It can start with pressure and stress from a huge meeting or just general pressure at work. It can be from being overshadowed by a colleague for a promotion. It might even be substance abuse, issues on the personal front as well as challenges with personal finances. For some it might even be abuse in their childhood and not dealing with their childhood trauma. The possibilities are endless as to what might be the sparking point for an issue around mental health. 

The reality is that if a person with severe mental health issues do not diagnose and get the help it will be challenging for them. It could cause major problems on the personal front. It might even result in toxicity towards their partners and family. They might resort to substances and narcotics to cope and manage something they do not understand. 

What we need to look at is how to start getting men to talk about their mental health issues. Here are a few ways to get men to start taking their mental health issues serious at work: 

  • Start by breaking the stigma that men or boys don’t cry. This generational curse that has made is acceptable for men to always be emotionally unavailable has got to end. The approach starts in the home. Educate your sons that it is ok to cry. This is how we can start the difficult conversations that need to happen. If men are made to feel that it is okay to not mask their emotions, to accept that they have had a bad day and that a beer won’t fix it, then it is a start for them to take steps towards bettering their mental health. In the workplace, host the seminars and workshops to get male staff aware of the need for emotional awareness. 
  • As senior management, become more involved in the wellness of your employees. If there have been concerns about the office environment, take a keen interest and get involved. Sometimes the lack of resources, team members and even encouragement from management could be the reason for not just men, but most staff to feel demotivated and stressed.  Play a more active role in listening to staff wellness. Engage and participate with staff on how to improve the office environment. 
  • Make your teams mental health a priority. Invest in a specialist or hire an individual that can provide assistance to your team. It can be a councillor or a therapist that they can meet with to manage their mental health. It is not always that work is the spark for issues around mental health, but it could be the reason an employee is not performing their best. Offering your staff an additional wellness benefit will improve their morale and allow them to better manage their mental health. This could also be the start more team members seeking help and resolving the issues they have not dealt with. 

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute, a South African Corporate Training Provider & National Learning Institute. He is the author of Racism, Classism, Sexism, And The Other ISMs That Divide Us, AND My Leadership Legacy Journal available from the ICHAF Training Institute. 

The ICHAF Training Institute offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | 083 303 9159 |

Email: admin@ichaftraining.co.za devan@ichaftraining.co.za |  Website: www.ichaftraining.co.za |  www.devan-moonsamy.com