Title: A Tale of Two Continents: Men’s Mental Health Perspectives in Kenya & Latin America By: Marissa Flores

Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated every June around the world. It is a crucial topic that deserves attention globally, including in Kenya. In many societies, including Kenya, men often face unique challenges and pressures that can impact their mental well-being. Issues such as societal expectations of masculinity, the stigma surrounding mental health and men, and reluctance to seek help can all contribute to men’s mental health issues being overlooked and unaddressed. 

I grew up with two brothers and my father in a heavily masculine Latino family where talking about feelings and emotions was only reserved for the ladies of the family, which put an unfair weight of pressure on my mother and me to regulate the balance of emotions in the family. Like Kenyan culture, men were not encouraged to talk about their feelings and remain silent and strong in Latine culture. This created a false narrative that the men in my family were doing well mentally and emotionally, but this was not the case. My father struggled with his mental health and resorted to unhealthy coping strategies- alcohol abuse. This created a cycle of poor mental health within the family, and his alcohol abuse affected our whole family negatively. Eventually, my father passed away from his alcohol abuse, and it greatly affected my family, especially my brothers. This time, they were able to access professional mental health services to help them during their grief and recognize the signs of poor mental health and how to prevent and combat them. 

In Kenya, men are most likely to develop depression and substance use problems that negatively impact their livelihoods and affect their families as well. Families in Kenya often experience high numbers of gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence in the household. When men acknowledge and address their mental health needs positively, they can become positive role models for their children and be better partners to their wives, promoting healthy family dynamics in Kenya. Men in Kenya are often worried about their finances and job idleness, which can create distress in their mental health. When men care for themselves and manage their stress healthily, they can develop solutions to their problems and become resilient individuals and communities.  

After our father passed away, it was important for the men in my family to challenge the cultural and societal norms that were associated with men being strong and not discussing or working on their mental health. Once they got over this aged perspective, they were able to access professional mental health services and grieve our father in a healthy way that benefited our families. Now, my younger brother promotes mental health in his workplace and continues to challenge the norm of men being quiet about their mental wellness. 

Society and cultural perspectives in Kenya put these expectations and traditional gender norms onto men, perpetuating the silence surrounding their mental well-being and encouraging them to be strong and silent through all life's trials and tribulations. Although men are strong and can handle a lot independently, they also require support and help when facing high-pressure situations and challenges that harm their mental well-being. 

So, how can we improve acknowledgment and access to men’s mental health in Kenya? 

Men in Kenya can create support groups for one another to encourage being open about their mental health problems and have others who can relate to them. This will promote discussion about the challenges they face and creative solutions about how to move forward positively. Psychoeducation, guidance, and counseling are also ways men can support their mental well-being to create more fulfilling lives. These discussions in workplaces, community forums, and the household will change how cultural norms are upheld and foster better connections and resilience in Kenyan society. 

Mental Health Wellness Tips for Men: 

• Regular exercise or movement when feeling distressed. 

• Being mindful and thoughtful about reactions to stressful events in life. 

• Practicing living healthy lifestyles, including a balanced diet, getting proper sleep, and reducing alcohol and drug usage. 

• Creating and participating in men’s support groups for mental health. 

• Seeking professional therapy services.