Men’s Mental Health Month

In honor of Men’s Mental Health Month Upili welcomes Kennedy Kimeli to share his perspective.

My name is Kennedy Kimeli.

I am a social worker by profession, and also a peer counselor, mentor and an advocate, championing for the rights of Children and Youth with Disabilities.

In November 2009 while accompanying a high school friend to hospital, we were involved in a tragic road accident. I sustained serious injuries on my spinal cord and since then I  rely on my wheelchair for mobility.

SHAK Kiambu and Bethany Relief and International Rehabilitation have given me an opportunity to mentor and counsel children and youth with (SBH) Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus. This work is done at Joytown Primary and Secondary School.

I have an opportunity to change how these individuals see themselves and the world around them. In my work I challenge the students to take up opportunities that come their way without hesitation or fear.

My ambition is to see every person living with disability treated as any other person and to fully venture into my work in counseling psychology so I can help people focus on positive things in life despite the numerous challenges.

What is mental health?

Mental health is about how people think, feel, and behave. Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addiction and other disorders that can affect impact thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves.

It is based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves, which can feel very difficult to change.

Self-esteem can affect whether you:

• like and value yourself as a person.
• Recognize your strength
• Believe you deserve happiness

Self-confidence

Self-confidence can be affected by factors such as:

• Your confidence — not feeling secure in yourself and in your life.
• Your identity — you may have doubts about your gender, sexuality or body.
•  Your sense of belonging — feeling like you don’t belong with family, friends or at work.

Persons with Disabilities

Persons with Disabilities and mental health challenges often go together due to a complex set of factors.

Social discrimination and lack of integrated care are just a part of the difficulties that Persons with Disabilities face in life.

People with disabilities are five times more likely to experience mental health challenges compared to the general population.

Men experience these challenges often through difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge.

Men can experience increased worry or feeling stressed. They may have persistent sadness or feelings of hopelessness.

Men’s issues can develop from different causes and triggers than those that affect women.

For example, men’s issues often stem from societal expectations and traditional gender roles, which may lead men to think that they must:

• be the breadwinners in the family
• display traditional “masculine” traits, such as strength and control
• rely on oneself and not seek help from others
• not speak openly about their emotions
• Holding on to these traditional beliefs can negatively impact men’s mental health and keep them from accessing support and treatment

Conclusion

We know men’s mental health issues differ from women’s in many ways, yet they are just as important. One concerning aspect is that men are more reluctant to seek treatment for issues they face.

However if they seek and continue treatment it can have a significant positive impact on the lives of men who experience mental health difficulties. Seeking support from health professionals and loved ones can ease the symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of suicide.

Organizations like Upili offer support to young men with disabilities experiencing mental health challenges and can make a big impact.