KIRAGU: Fellow men, speak out when depressed

November is now widely accepted as a month when we raise awareness of men's health. Countries use this month to raise awareness of preventable men's health problems and encourage early detection and treatment.

This, therefore, is a significant time for Kenyans to address men’s mental health, which has become the elephant in the room in our society. Male depression is a huge problem but many men ignore it.  This is worrying since whenever such depression goes untreated, it leads to devastating consequences.

For instance, when depressed, men start engaging in risky behaviours such as driving carelessly, gambling and drinking too much, leading to violence in their homes. Therefore, men must learn to open up when feeling troubled.

The latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report shows that more men than women suffer from mental illness. This means that if the situation continues to receive little attention, it will be a pandemic.

Therefore, we all have a role in encouraging men to speak out whenever they feel signs of depression to save lives. The traditional perception that men are strong and should not show any emotional weakness has always been a barrier to men speaking out.

We should all work together to encourage men to speak out. Speaking to a friend or health professional should be encouraged. It is not a sign of weakness but self-compassion and bravery. No one will reject you for speaking out.