Men's mental health in shadows

By Michael Martin/MALAWI

✓Breaking the silence around men’s emotional wellbeing–Experts

✓A crisis in silence–WHO

Across Malawi, a growing number of men are battling mental health challenges behind closed doors. Economic woes and relationships breakdown are real. Their stories are rarely told, their pain often dismissed, and their cries drowned by social stigma and cultural expectations of masculinity.

Yes! In communities like Ndirande township in Blantyre, the lakeshore district of Mponda, Mangochi, and the rural stretches of Chiradzulu, a silent crisis is a song every day.

Brian Matchowa, 32, from Ndirande, Blantyre, a father of four children was once a vibrant young entrepreneur.

But after losing his business during the COVID-19 pandemic, he spiraled into depression.

He said: “People told me to ‘man up’ and move on. But I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I felt useless. But I had no one to talk to.”

Matchowa said eventually he sought help through a local church, but professional services were either too far or too expensive.

His story mirrors the plight of many urban men caught in the economic and emotional aftershocks of personal and national crises.

Not only Matchowa, but Ephraim Makatani is also a victim of depression in the face of duty.

Father of three children, Makatani, 45, is a widower and primary school teacher at Eram Private School in the same district.

“I felt pressure to be strong for my family. But after the death of my wife, I broke down completely. I still taught during the day, but cried at night,” he decried.

Makatani’s case highlights how many professionals function in silence, fearful of the stigma attached to mental health.

Again, 48 year-old, Yousuf Raza Qadri based in Mangochi speaks of cultural constraints.

He said: “In our community, men don’t cry, and mental illness is seen as weakness or even witchcraft. I suffered anxiety attacks, but people said I was possessed.”

He said he is now volunteers with local youth groups to raise awareness and push back against harmful narratives.

Tiyamike, 39, from Chiradzulu said he dealt with severe PTSD after a road accident that killed three of his friends.

“Everyone said I should thank God I survived,” he recalls. “But I wished I hadn’t. The nightmares wouldn’t stop.”

He said his access to mental health services was nearly non existent until a traveling clinic referred him to Zomba Mental Hospital, over 100 km away.

Speaking in an interview, renowned clinical psychologist, Dr. Chiwoza Bandawe said, “Our society has failed men. They are taught that emotions are weaknesses. That conditioning starts in childhood and can be deadly in adulthood.”

He emphasized the need for community-based interventions and mental health literacy in schools and workplaces.

In his remarks, George Jobe, Executive Director of the Malawi Health Equity Network has noted the geographical and economic barriers to care.

He added that: “Most mental health facilities are urban-based and underfunded. rural men like Tiyamike are left behind.”

He has therefore, called for policy reforms to integrate mental health into primary care and community health outreach.

But Young Achievers for Development (YAD), led by its Executive Director, Jefferson Milanzie, launched community programs dubbed ‘Tibe Khonde’ targeting youth and young adults who are battling with mental health challenges.

Writing on Facebook page, Milanzie said: “We host safe spaces where young men can talk, get referrals, and be empowered. Change starts by normalizing the conversation.”

Their mobile mental health outreach in Blantyre is reaching hundreds of men who previously had no access to care.

According to recent Ministry of Health reports, over 20% of Malawian men suffer from mental health conditions, yet fewer than 5% receive formal treatment. Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has acknowledged this gap.

“We need to train more mental health professionals and expand community-based services,” the Minister said in a recent address.

“The burden is real, and we can no longer ignore it.”

However, International reports by World Health Organization (WHO) also suggest that mental health disorders are the leading cause of disability among men aged 25–45 in sub-Saharan Africa, exacerbated by unemployment, substance abuse, and gendered expectations.

“Mental health must be reframed not as a weakness but as a crucial component of holistic wellbeing. Community leaders, educators, religious institutions, and media must play a role in dismantling the stigma,” reads report in part.

But with combined efforts from government, civil society, and grassroots movements, there is hope.

The silence is breaking. But the journey to men’s mental wellness in Malawi is just beginning.