Men and women both experience stigma when seeking help for mental health challenges. However, men are significantly less likely to seek support.
The consequences extend far beyond the individual—contributing to increased psychological and physical strain, relationship difficulties, lost productivity, and, tragically, higher suicide rates among men compared to women.
To help challenge this stigma and encourage meaningful conversations, the South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) proudly hosted its first Awareness in Action with SAFMH webinar on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
Awareness in Action with SAFMH is a monthly online conversation dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and well-being. These one-hour sessions offer expert insights and practical information, and they provide a safe space for education, advocacy, and conversations. The webinars aim to foster understanding, encourage open dialogue, and promote positive mental health for individuals, families, and communities.
SAFMH Deputy Director Leon de Beer was joined by CJ Nel, KG Habyane, Tshegofatso Sephula, and Nelson Mahamba for this important conversation. The webinar was engaging and insightful, with all of the speakers sharing honestly and earnestly from their experiences. It was also encouraging to see attendees sharing positive messages during and after the session. The key takeaway was that we need to keep the conversation going and create more safe spaces where men can share and speak freely about their feelings.
Sadly, there is a silence that continues to hang over men and mental health, but I feel as if we are starting to lift the curatin by having these conversations and by showing men that it’s okay to talk about these things.” – Leon de Beer
For those who missed the conversation, you can view the recording below.
Read more about our speakers below:
- Leon de Beer – Deputy Director of SAFMH for the past 14 years; has a personal, professional, and academic interest in men and mental health, including issues such as hegemonic masculinity and patriarchal and societal norms and stereotypes of men. Has worked in the development sector for the past 25 years, in various capacities and settings [disability to HIV/AIDS, health and well-being, youth development, training and education etc], both in SA and the UK. Currently kickstarting his PhD, focusing on mental health stigma in Afrikaner men, and how these perceptions were shaped and perpetuated by their nuclear families when they were young.
- KG [Kgaugelo Habyane] – a facilitator trained in Ontological Coaching and founder/host of Manned Up Conversations, a platform focused on men’s mental health and emotional well-being. His work explores masculinity, vulnerability, and healing through dialogue, storytelling, and reflective practice. Personal challenges as an only child and curiosity about men’s ways of being drive his advocacy for men’s mental health.
- CJ Nel – an HPCSA Registered Counsellor with a special interest in Life Transitions, Adjusting to Chronic Diagnosis and/or Acquired Disability; Identity formulation and LGBTQAI+ matters. While these are very broad but niche interest fields, they relate to men’s mental health in an extraordinarily large way, as men can often be seen in very specific ways, having to adjust to adverse challenges, and gaining the emotional and introspective abilities necessary to meet these challenges can often be met with personal, societal, familial, psychological and spiritual resistance.
- Tshegofatso Tiyani Sephula – a writer, speaker, and the author of the book Mental Decay, who transformed his profound personal battle with mental illness into a mission for awareness. He now dedicates his life to empowering others—particularly men—to break their silence, embrace vulnerability, and realise they are never alone.
- Nelson Mahamba – a friend, a partner, a brother, an uncle, and a son; a father in many shapes and forms. He is currently an Assistant General Manager at Central Gauteng Mental Health Society. He is a qualified Social Worker with 12 years of experience in the substance abuse (drug addiction) and mental health fields (with a particular curiosity about depression in men). His interest in men’s mental health is driven by a belief that true freedom comes from being in control rather than allowing circumstances to dictate one’s life.
Help is available. The National Suicide Crisis Line is 0800 567 567. This number is free, operates 24/7 and offers counselling in all 11 official languages.
