A Marriage Counsellor, Kobina Atta-Bedu says many men are suffering in silence due to stereotypes.

He was sharing his thoughts on the topic; “When our men are overwhelmed” on Home Affairs on Joy FM hosted by Edem Knight-Tay on Saturday.

The discussion follows the story of a caller who phoned into Joy FM’s late afternoon programme, ‘Drive Time’, on Tuesday, April 18, to talk about his decision to commit suicide due to a marital problem.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/joy-fms-drive-time-show-saves-caller-from-committing-suicide/

Taking his turn among the four guests lined up, Mr Atta-Bedu revealed that most men are suffering quietly because their pain is mostly psychological and emotional, hence, there are no visible signs.

According to him, “Most men have died not by suicide but because they just popped off due to marital stress.”

He was worried that some women stress their husbands to the extent that the men start taking solace in womanising, alcohol and work.

The Wellness Coach, Ariel, who was also a guest on the show, said “Men are unable to share their fears because they don’t feel safe. They feel the woman will judge them so they don’t open up."

Ariel urged men to open up and seek help for their mental challenges because unmet, suppressed needs, combined with mental stress and physical exhaustion, all contribute to people feeling suicidal.

Marriage Counselor & Lawyer, Rev. Kofi Boateng (Esq), who was also a guest on the show, enumerated marital, financial and post-natal stress as some of the current struggles men are going through, yet, they hesitate to openly talk about them.

He added; “There's too much demands on husbands. Both nuclear and extended families have expectations of men.”

He encouraged men to speak up about their issues in order to find solutions to their challenges.

The fourth guest on the show, Rev. Mrs. Theresa Wiafe-Asante, also admonished men not to allow anyone to disturb their mental health, because they need a sound mind to live.

Mama Thess, as she’s affectionately called, bemoaned the fact that society has placed a lot of trouble on men, including claims that being able to have sex for 2 hours is what makes a person, manly.

She wants men to form groups to deliberate on issues bothering them.

The conversation continues this Saturday from 6:15 am to 7:30 am on Joy FM.