More than 500 men drawn from Nairobi, Nyanza, Western and North Rift regions converged at the Halleluyah Church headquarters in Eldoret City for a Men’s Conference focused on the growing mental health crisis among men.
The conference, organized by Halleluyah Church in partnership with Shiloh Training College, sought to break the culture of silence that has seen many men suffer alone.
Officially opening the forum, Halleluyah Church Bishop Dr. Zablon Malema said mental distress manifests differently in men and often goes unacknowledged, contributing to rising cases of suicide, femicide and broken families.
“Many men are dying silently because of mental health, and that is why we felt we need to come out strongly to discuss this issue,” Bishop Malema said.
How men ate silently suffering from mental health
He noted that societal expectations for men to be sole providers and protectors have made it difficult for them to seek help.
“Those who are overwhelmed with the pressure of being the sole providers and protectors don’t speak out for fear of being judged by society and traditions that see them as weak if they can’t provide or open up about their challenges,” he said.
The Bishop expressed concern over the rising number of widows and early deaths among men across the country.
“I once visited a village in Western Kenya where I was perplexed to realise that a big number of old men had died, leaving behind so many old women. In other parts of the country, I realised there were many young women who are still in their 30s and 40s who are already widows. This confirmed that something is seriously wrong — we are losing many men at an early age,” he added.
The conference was held under the theme _‘Bring Man Back to His Position’_, aimed at examining the root causes of men’s mental health struggles and finding sustainable solutions.
Bishop Malema said the church had previously focused on youth, having recently hosted over 300 young people from across the country for a similar forum on mental wellness.
Are church leaders also affected by mental health?
Mental health expert Dr. Francis Osoro, who was among the facilitators, said even clergy are affected and urged men to seek professional counselling.
“Mental health affects even the clergy. Men should seek professional counselling instead of assuming that their problems are too big and have no solution,” Dr. Osoro said.
Speaking on behalf of participants, Pastor Justus Kiprono said many men in church suffer in silence for lack of confidants, adding that open conversations can reduce deaths linked to depression and stress.
He said participants would take the lessons back to their congregations to encourage dialogue around men’s mental wellness.
