Steven Klukowski
Suzith Tjitaura
KEETMANSHOOP – Recent statistics from the health ministry indicate that between August 2022 and June this year, 623 people committed suicide, of whom 511 were men, representing nearly 82% of people who opted to end their lives by suicide.
The study, conducted by the ministry, shows that suicides in Namibia are mainly caused by depression, followed by rejection, hopelessness, family problems, poor self-worth and wanting others to know the pain victims are in.
It is because of this worrisome trend that men held a conference under the theme “Zero Male Suicide: Promoting Positive Masculinity” on Thursday in Keetmanshoop.
Over 300 men from the //Kharas region attended the third Namibia national men’s conference. It was organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare.
In a speech read on his behalf, deputy minister of marginalised communities, Royal |Ui|o|oo urged men to encourage each other in a positive way, adding that they should share positive experiences which are helpful for others to learn from as well as promote a culture of non-violence.
“Let us seek help when going through disappointments, rejection or any other situation that we find ourselves in. I am confident that as men, we can strive for a culture of non-violence; we can resolve conflict with no violence,” he
said.
The aim of the conference was to create platforms for men to discuss issues of gender-based violence (GBV), and gender equality.
“It further aims to promote greater involvement of men in the prevention of GBV, HIV, AIDS, safe motherhood, fatherhood initiatives, and the promotion of positive gender norms and positive change,” he noted.
|Ui|o|oo further said the government has put in place a male engagement programme to address these issues with set objectives, namely to create a platform and safe space for men to engage on issues affecting them, sensitise them and share experiences on issues of mental health, raise awareness on legal frameworks meant to restrain GBV (especially focusing on amended laws), create awareness, and consequently increase participants’ practices of alternatives to violence and help-seeking behaviours, encourage and mobilise men to willingly act and stand up against GBV, and lastly to promote positive masculinity amongst men.
In his welcoming remarks, southern regional commander for the Namibian Correctional Services, Leonard Mahundu said men came together to celebrate the strength, resilience and commitment that each of them embodies in their respective roles.
“Attending this conference is a testament of your dedication to safeguarding our society and promoting a healthier, more positive definition of masculinity,” he said.
He added: “Men, to date, wrongly perceive that masculinity is about aggression, dominance and a lack of emotions and feelings”.
Mahundu said people usually hide challenges such as heartbreaks and life pressures, to a point where they cannot hide them anymore, leading to devastating consequences for themselves, those around them, and wider society.
Keetmanshoop municipal councillor Gaudentia Kröhne urged men to open up about their hurtful emotions when subjected to harassment, GBV, inferiority to women, and broken marriages/relationships.
“Just remember, there is always a good listener and helping hand outside your barriers who can prevent you from thinking about suicide,” she advised.
In his contribution, Gerald Frederick from the Men by Example Group mentioned factors such as men’s unwillingness to speak up and support each other, a lack of adequate structures/organisations which can assist men, and the inability to release build-up emotions as the main reasons for the alarming rate of suicides.
“Society should realise that men are not super-humans not having emotions, and being the superior sex who can absorb pain and hurting feelings easier,” he stressed.
Farmer Ulrich Dawids said the conference was a good platform for men to openly speak about issues affecting them without the fear of being judged, urging the gender equality ministry to consider hosting it at rural set-ups to have more people involved.
“It should also be held in rural communities, where we can set up talks among men for us to learn from each other on how to deal with these issues, because there are real problems. We see them within our families and communities, and we need to know where we can go for help instead of resorting to violence,” he advised.
Participant Maurius Shikongo said “this platform enlightens us to deal with emotions because in society as the boy child, we are taught to suppress our emotions, and we do not know how to express ourselves. The boy child is not prepared for how to deal with toxic relationships, financial pressure and other issues. As men, we need to love ourselves, and take on what we can handle”.
Other topics which the men deliberated on included how they feel the laws of Namibia favour women and the girl child over men and boys, a lack of employment as countries are moving into artificial intelligence, the issue of paternity, and the role of churches.
– Nampa
Caption: Camaraderie… Some of the participants at the men’s conference in Keetmanshoop.
Photo: Steven Klukowski