There is no doubt that men’s mental health is of great concern. For too long, men’s mental health seems to have been society’s blind side in devising interventions to overcome some of society’s grave challenges. 

With that said, first, it will be of greater importance to highlight and recognise progress made to address this issue and mitigate its adverse impact. One such initiative of note is the men’s conference. 

Although some may argue that the men’s conference seems not to have a great impact on the crisis, it is worth recognising and giving the birther of the idea their flowers while they can still smell them. 

Because, unlike the social media keyboard warriors, they had the courage to take a more practical and pragmatic approach.  However, as much as we appreciate the initiatives aimed at addressing this issue, in the same vein we may also need to have an objective evaluation. 

This review will enable us to be proactive in addressing the gaps that may be a hindrance to the goal. 

Furthermore, it is also worth noting that the initiatives and efforts meant to address men’s mental health must be done from a place of honesty and sincerity, rather than scratching the surface. In the absence of these essential elements, even the men’s conference may eventually just turn into a wish-wash event and an eco-chamber, and not honestly addressing the elephant in the room. 

To successfully mitigate this crisis requires addressing the accepted societal norms and practices which may not be so comfortable to have a discourse about. One admission to be made is that alcohol is a great factor in men’s mental health in Namibia. Alcohol, by nature, is a depressant, and when ingested excessively or for longer periods of time, can have serious mental and emotional health problems. 

It may also lead to financial instability, family and other relationship problems, which may inversely also create a cycle of it becoming a coping mechanism. Besides that, the deliberate association of alcohol with fun rather than as self-poisoning leads to oblivion enough not to acknowledge its adverse impact on people’s general health, and even societal degradation.

It is also worth noting that adopting a hedonistic culture cannot endlessly go on without its karmic effects. The constant obsession and indulgence in seeking pleasure eventually leads to nowhere else than experiencing a great dopamine deficit.  To address it, unknowingly, this deficit leads one to continuously dig a hole they may eventually not be able to get out of.  

To add fuel to the fire, in a society that is highly sexualised and normalises promiscuity, much time, effort and energy are expended in pursuing sexual pleasure and unnecessary depletion of the body’s essential nutrients through excess loss of the seminal fluid than pursuing a greater purpose. 

This leads to the deprivation of essential nutrients from not only the brain, but also other parts of the body, and the production of essential hormones such as testosterone, serotonin and others whose lack may result in anxiety and depression.  

As much as there have been initiatives and efforts in this battle, and its aims and objectives defined, the challenge is that they may not be inclusive and holistic. 

It is therefore important to note that to effectively address men’s mental health issues, physical fitness and spiritual aspects are often left out. Comparative studies done between nations that promote general physical fitness and those that do not reveal a day and night contrast.  This is because apart from the fact that physical strength translates into mental strength, it also promotes high standards of discipline, confidence and high levels of self-control and esteem.  Once again, it leads back to the assertion that if you want to control or destroy a society, give it alcohol, entertainment and sexual freedom. 

*Karlos The Great

E-mail: karlsimbumusic@gmail.com.Uncommon Sense is published bi-weekly in the New Era newspaper with contributions from Karlos Naimwhaka. YouTube channel: Karlos Lokos