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A cross-section of mental health advocates, legal practitioners, parents, and youth influencers have raised serious concerns about the increasing emotional and psychological struggles facing men and boys in Ghana, calling for a coordinated national effort to address the crisis. The call was made at a stakeholder engagement held in Accra, where participants examined the rising burden of depression, anxiety, and suicide among young males and the long-standing societal pressures that prevent them from seeking help.
Delivering one of the keynote interventions, legal practitioner Lawyer Prince Asare described the recent surge in suicide cases in schools as “deeply alarming,” stressing that many of the incidents are rooted in untreated depression and the lack of open communication channels for boys. He said young men continue to face cultural expectations that compel them to hide their emotions, endure hardship, and appear strong at all times, even when internally overwhelmed.
“As a society, we have conditioned our boys to believe that seeking help is weakness. This mindset is costing lives,” he said. Lawyer Asare urged young men to speak up when distressed and called on parents, teachers, and community leaders to encourage openness and emotional literacy.
He added that policymakers must “wake up” to the urgent need for structured mental health programmes in schools, arguing that the current support systems are inadequate for the scale of the problem. “We cannot continue losing our boys because we failed to create safe spaces for them,” he emphasized.
Lawyer Asare also appealed to parents to abandon outdated approaches to raising boys, noting that the old-fashioned method of urging them to “be tough” is no longer compatible with the complexities of modern life. He encouraged families to listen, communicate, and offer guidance rooted in empathy rather than traditional masculine expectations.
Adding his voice to the discussion, Ghanaian blogger and humanitarian Kobby Kyei underscored the importance of consciously paying attention to the boy child. He argued that while significant progress has been made in amplifying issues affecting girls, conversations surrounding boys’ emotional development remain limited.
According to him, society must be deliberate in creating spaces where boys feel seen, valued, and supported.
The founder of Brain Fitness Center Africa, Lizette Beri, highlighted the broader objective of the engagement. She explained that the programme seeks to demystify men’s mental health and break down the stereotypes that silence many of them. Beri noted that the long-term vision is to build a supportive community where men can access help without stigma or fear.
Speakers at the event further reflected on the recent observation of International Men’s Day, lamenting the poor visibility and limited public engagement that characterized the commemoration in Ghana. They argued that the muted nature of the observance mirrors society’s general neglect of men’s wellbeing. Many participants noted that even men themselves showed little interest, an outcome they attributed to years of conditioning that teaches men to deprioritize their emotional needs.
The discussion ended with a strong reminder that men, like women, face emotional challenges that require attention, compassion, and structured support. Stakeholders emphasized that failing to address the issue now could have long-term consequences for families, communities, and the nation.
They called for a comprehensive and inclusive national mental health agenda, one that acknowledges the struggles of men and boys and works tirelessly to ensure that no one suffers in silence.
Source: Eric Crentsil
