Author: Victoria Beeko Danso
Every morning, millions of men wake up with responsibilities already waiting for them.
Some are fathers wondering how to pay school fees. Some are husbands trying to keep food on the table despite rising living costs.
Others are young men searching endlessly for jobs in an economy that often offers more frustration than opportunity. Many are supporting not just their wives and children, but parents, siblings, and extended family members as well.
Yet, while society frequently celebrates the role of men as providers and protectors, we rarely stop to ask a simple question: Who is taking care of the mental health of the men carrying these burdens?
June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and it is a timely reminder that behind many strong faces are silent struggles.
Across the world, more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, according to the World Health Organization.
Research also consistently shows that men are less likely to seek help for mental health challenges and account for a disproportionately high number of suicide deaths. Stigma, societal expectations, and the fear of appearing weak continue to prevent many men from speaking up when they are struggling.
In Ghana, the issue is often hidden behind culture and tradition. From childhood, many boys are taught that crying is a sign of weakness. They are told to “be strong,” “be a man,” and “solve your problems yourself.” While resilience is important, emotional suppression is not strength.
The result is that many men suffer quietly.
A man can be battling depression while still showing up to work every day.
He can be overwhelmed by debt and still be expected to provide. He can be emotionally exhausted and still be expected to lead.
He can be breaking down internally while everyone around him assumes he is fine simply because he is functioning.
Our society has conditioned men to believe that vulnerability is a weakness when, in fact, acknowledging pain is often the first step toward healing.
The pressures facing men today are immense. Economic uncertainty, unemployment, rising costs of living, relationship challenges, family responsibilities, and societal expectations have created a perfect storm of stress and anxiety.
The pressure becomes even greater when a man’s worth is measured almost entirely by his ability to provide financially.
When a man loses his job, society often sees a failure.
When a man struggles emotionally, society often sees weakness.
When a man asks for help, society often questions his strength.
This must change.
Mental health is not a women’s issue. It is not a men’s issue. It is a human issue.
The reality is that healthy families need healthy fathers. Strong marriages need emotionally healthy husbands. Productive economies need mentally healthy workers.
Communities cannot thrive when the very people expected to carry heavy responsibilities are silently collapsing under the weight of those expectations.
We need to create environments where men can speak openly without fear of ridicule.
Families must check on the emotional wellbeing of fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons, not just their financial contributions.
Workplaces must prioritize mental wellness, and religious and community leaders must actively encourage conversations about mental health.
Most importantly, we must redefine what strength means.
Strength is not suffering in silence.
Strength is not pretending everything is okay when it is not.
Strength is having the courage to say, “I am struggling and I need support.”
As we mark Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, let us move beyond hashtags and symbolic messages. Let us genuinely listen to the men around us.
Let us create safe spaces for honest conversations. Let us remind men that their value extends far beyond their ability to provide.
Because before a man is a provider, protector, husband, father, or leader, he is first a human being. And human beings need support too.
