HUNDREDS of men suffer from mental health issues because they can't express their feelings.
While South Africa observed October as Mental Health Awareness Month, Daily Sun spoke to a 27-year-old man making a difference in his kasi.
Kutlwano "Hustler" Mbele from Ga-Rankuwa in Tshwane is the founder of the #MenCanTalk&Chill movement.
The movement is about bringing men together and making a safe space to discuss their problems.
Kutlwano said it formally started in September.
"What truly inspired me to start this initiative was my journey of finding healing within myself as a man. This was caused by the childhood trauma of growing up with the absence of both parents in my life. So, I realised that men don't really talk," he said.
He said for too long, society has expected men to man up, suppress and bury emotions rather than address them.
"So, I started the initiative to change the narrative. I found my healing through crying as a man, talking blankly about my trauma and making the establishment of #MenCanTalk&Chill possible," he said.
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He said the initiative's purpose is simply to create a platform for men to talk.
"This is to vent and be able to tackle issues affecting us as men. Let it be our mental health, relationships, finances, family, health, business, careers and more.
"With this initiative, we're also breaking the stigma of don't cry. Boys are taught that men don't cry and need to internalise their feelings," he said.
He said so far, the growth of the initiative scares him.
"It's positively growing so well. I host once a month with specific topics. The first one was hosted in September, which was a success," he said.
He said the feedback has been very positive.
"I get messages and calls from men who attended the event and said this initiative has changed their lives. And I'm so grateful for that because that's its purpose," he said.
He said he wanted to see every man healing.
"I need to see every man becoming a better man, better father, better brother and better within themselves. I want to see this initiative go international, globally. This is for men. I believe nothing is entirely about men in this world," he said.
