31/10/2023
MEN ENCOURAGED TO SEEK HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT
The University of the Free State (UFS) contributed to a broader understanding of men’s health and helped create a supportive and inclusive society that fosters the well-being for all individuals.
The UFS did this by successfully hosting its second Mask Unity Men’s Conference and putting the spotlight on men’s health by addressing health issues affecting men in higher education institutions.
The theme of the conference was “Remove your mask, and speak out!”, with men from different universities attending. It was hosted a few weeks ago over two days on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.
The keynote speaker on the first day was Dr (Professor) Ramneek Ahluwalia, Chief Executive Officer of Higher Health SA.
According to Shibashiba Moabelo, Institutional HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator at Kovsie Health, the conference noted that men often face unique challenges when it comes to emotional, psychological, and physiological health due to various contributing societal and cultural factors.
He says these challenges can arise from traditional gender norms and expectations, as well as the reluctance to seek help or express emotions openly.
“Normalizing and addressing these issues and creating awareness is crucial for promoting mental health and well-being among men.”
The conference focused on areas such as raising awareness, encouraging help-seeking behaviour, challenging gender stereotypes, building support networks, mental health education and collaboration and advocacy.
And by addressing these, it contributed to a better understanding and support of men’s health.
Help-seeking behaviour was for instance encouraged by providing information on available resources, therapy options, and support networks. The conference encouraged men to seek help when they need it.
“Sharing personal stories of men who have overcome mental health challenges also inspired others to act positively,” says Moabelo.
When it comes to mental health education, the conference provided a session on mental health literacy, stress management techniques, and emotional intelligence to give men practical skills to manage their mental well-being.
UFS Student Counselling & Development UFS Alumni UFS SRC BFN Campus UFS Bloemfontein Campus SRC Kovsie TV The Real Kovsie TV KOVSIE FM 97.0 Edith Maritz Gerhard Jansen In Touch Therapy Centre Corne De Klerk Vorster Paula Olivier Anley Sarien De Necker UFS North College UFS Central College UFS South College South College - UFS UFS Faculty of Health Sciences Perle Farmer du Plessis National Department of Health (South Africa)
