“Greetings dear reader. I am not feeling well today. I may sleep a little bit longer than usual. I call it eternal sleep.”
This was the haunting final post on social media by a man from Baringo County—a father battling a crippling betting addiction, before he took his own life.
In another heartbreaking case, a 37-year-old man in the Zamzam area of Likoni, Mombasa, left behind a 60-page suicide note. In it, he poured out years of pain, blaming his deteriorating health and the lack of support from his family and friends. “My brother and sisters have a lot of money to spend on the holidays, yet I am here languishing under disease and malnutrition,” he wrote.
Elsewhere in Laikipia, a young man’s dreams were shattered when his family couldn’t afford to send him to college despite his successful completion of high school. As his friends moved forward with their lives, he was left behind alone and discouraged. The emotional toll led him down a path of isolation and mental illness.
These aren’t isolated stories. They reflect a growing mental health crisis, particularly among men in Kenya.
The Hidden Battle
In Kenya, around 4.4% of the population is affected by mental health disorders, with conditions like depression, anxiety, substance use, and PTSD being the most common. According to the “Women and Men in Kenya, Facts and Figures” report, 57% of men suffer from mental disorders compared to 43% of women. Despite this, men continue to exhibit significantly higher suicide rates, as reported by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The numbers highlight a painful truth: many men are silently battling inner demons – fear, pressure, hopelessness and too often, they do it alone.
Why Are Men Struggling in Silence?
From a young age, many men are raised with a singular narrative be strong, be the provider, don’t cry, don’t complain. These outdated gender norms and cultural expectations create a suffocating silence around mental health. Expressing vulnerability is often equated with weakness, leaving many men without the language or the permission to ask for help.
Creating Safe Spaces for Men to Heal
Organizations and communities can play a vital role in transforming how we view and address men’s mental health.
In a work setting, Zizi Afrique in this case, regular one-on-one check-ins between supervisors and their teams can become more than just task updates. They can evolve into trusted spaces where genuine concern is shared, and support is offered. Sometimes, being asked “How are you really doing?” can be the first step toward healing.These sessions are more than professional development they’re opportunities to challenge harmful stereotypes around masculinity and mental wellness. They create an open forum for honest conversations and practical insights. One idea, one story, one piece of advice could be the lifeline someone needed. These conversations can be deeply healing. When leadership is vulnerable, it signals to others that it’s safe to be human. Whether it’s a casual walk or a hands-on activity, the key is creating a relaxed atmosphere where men can share freely, connect, and be heard. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for someone is simply to listen.
Secondly ,Zizi Afrique has partnered with an insurance provider and one of the coverage packages include counselling sessions. Men could therefore take advantage of this opportunity to open and seek professional guidance in a safe and private setting.
Thirdly, the bi-monthly learning sessions and staff meetings serve as a crucial platform for challenging and transforming traditional perceptions of masculinity and emotional wellness. They offer a space to engage with diverse perspectives on mental health and explore practical approaches to addressing related issues. You never know the facilitator might just hold the insight or solution someone’s been searching for.
Lastly, the ‘Men Talk’ sessions led by the Executive Director could serve as a meaningful avenue for open and empathetic conversation. These discussions provide a space for men within the organization to connect over shared challenges, reflect honestly, and co-create solutions in a judgment-free environment. Trust forms the backbone of these interactions
A Call to Action
To help men overcome mental health challenges, we must move beyond just raising awareness and instead build systems that empower men to speak, seek help, and support one another without the fear of being judged.
Men’s mental health matters. Not just for the men themselves, but for their families, their communities, and future generations. If you’re a man reading this:
You don’t have to carry this alone.
Talk to someone. Pray. Write it down. Cry if you need to. Just don’t bottle it up. There’s no shame in struggling. The real strength lies in asking for help.
And if you’ve noticed your friend seems different lately, don’t wait. Check in. Call. Visit. Ask how they’re really doing. It could save a life.
We weren’t made to weather storms alone.
Let’s Walk this road together—one honest conversation at a time.
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