Men's mental wellbeing begins in childhood, experts say

Nurturing men's mental well-being must begin in childhood, according to Empower Pacific clinical supervisor Ana Radrekusa. She emphasized that the formative years significantly shape adult mental health and behavior.

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This is something that needs to start at a very early age. So think about at the moment, we are trying to work on something that an individual has been raised by all this time

"This is something that needs to start at a very early age. So think about at the moment, we are trying to work on something that an individual has been raised by all this time," Radrekusa stated, urging families to address mental health openly rather than treating it as taboo.

Family support is vital, with awareness campaigns reaching out to help families understand how they can assist their children and the men in their households. This support helps individuals understand themselves and their potential.

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Family is very, very important, and we need to reach families. So when we are doing awareness, we are reaching out to families, what support they can give, what they can talk about to help their children, help their men in the house to know who they are and what they can become.

Taufa Qoro St John from DCOSS Lami noted that children possess a greater awareness of their surroundings and emotions than often assumed. "I was surprised to hear from the children, when they see their safe space and unsafe space, and they know very well what’s going on in here, who stands there, what they do there, that’s from a children’s perspective," St John observed. This understanding of emotional landscapes is key to changing perspectives on mental health, particularly for men.

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I was surprised to hear from the children, when they see their safe space and unsafe space, and they know very well what’s going on in here, who stands there, what they do there, that’s from a children’s perspective.