Pinehas K Pinehas

“Mental health was the last thing a man could worry about during apartheid,” says Namibian relationship counsellor Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi, known for his insights on social issues, modern relationships and personal development.

In an interview with New Era, reflecting on men’s mental health during the liberation struggle and in present-day Namibia, Karuaihe-Upi said men in the past had little room to focus on their emotional wellbeing, as survival under oppression took priority.

“Men in Namibia never had the privilege or luxury to look inward and deal with the challenges of being a healthy, free man,” he said. He explained that during the liberation struggle, men were primarily focused on survival and protection.

“If you consider what is known as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, men were stuck at the bottom in survival mode – working to survive, to protect, and to overcome external forces, not out of free will, but out of instinct,” he noted.

Karuaihe-Upi, who also refers to himself as a “relationship mechanic”, said men at the time were not preoccupied with financial success or wealth accumulation.

“Men did not have to worry about having money in their bank accounts, owning shares in companies or becoming millionaires,” he said.

However, he noted that 36 years after independence, men’s concerns have shifted but remain unresolved. Today, many men are burdened by expectations to provide and protect their families, often without adequate support systems.

“Men do not have the resources or recourse to deal with their challenges. So yes, even in an independent Namibia, men still face issues that have not been addressed,” he said.

He also highlighted a shortage of male psychologists and social workers from diverse cultural backgrounds, noting that many men feel more comfortable speaking to other men.

“There is a perception that men cannot open up to women because of societal beliefs about male superiority. This makes it difficult for men to seek help, as it is often seen as unacceptable,” he explained.

Karuaihe-Upi encouraged men to be more open about their struggles, stressing that emotional expression is a natural part of being human.

“Many men suffer in silence, turning to alcohol, drugs, crime or risky behaviour as coping mechanisms. This shows that men are not only providers of help, but also in need of help themselves,” he said.

He called on the nation to prioritise men’s mental health by creating structured support systems.

“Namibia has a duty to develop proper and effective ways to support men. We need to treat men’s mental health as an urgent issue,” he said.

– ppinehas@nepc.com.na