In a world that often equates resilience with silence, it is easy to believe that staying quiet is a form of strength. However when the emotional load becomes too heavy to bear, speaking up isn’t weakness, it is survival. The real question is: Who should you open up to and why does it matter so deeply?
Last Friday marked the launch of Love Your Mind (LYM) at the American Corner Library in Manzini, an initiative founded by Love Your Mind Founder and Psychologist Sisekelo Nkosi.
With the goal of touring across Africa, LYM aims to spark a continental conversation around mental health, particularly among the youth. Its message is clear: Mental health is not a privilege. It’s a right and the time to break the silence is now.
“Love Your Mind is a call to action to let go of the stigma, to speak without shame and to support one another. Mental health is not a Western problem, it is a human one,” Nkosi said
Psychosocial Counsellor and Lecturer at IRDM, Nelisiwe Nxumalo emphasised the importance of cultural sensitivity in mental healthcare. “Children must be encouraged to open up to their parents. ‘‘However, beyond that, we must normalise seeking professional help especially in African communities,” Nxumalo said
She also challenged the misconception that therapy is a western concept, highlighting that healing must be rooted in understanding and cultural context.
“While therapy might seem foreign to some cultures, mental health is not a Western problem, it’s a human problem. And for therapy to work, it must be culturally sensitive. As therapists, we must understand our clients’ culture. It makes them feel seen, heard and safe,” she highlighted
Nxumalo went on to call for governmental action, advocating for the introduction of mental health programmes and funding for young people to study Psychology. Meanwhile, also speaking at the event was renowned Journalist and Nation Magazine Editor, Bheki Makhubu, who shared a raw and deeply personal account of his time in prison.
Describing incarceration as a mental battleground, Makhubu reflected on how young men are often broken, manipulated and recruited into destructive behaviours behind bars. “If a child misbehaves, prison is not the solution. Discipline is key, but let’s not turn them into monsters,” Makhubu warned.
The seasoned journalist also lamented the absence of father figures in many young people’s lives and highlighted the challenges former inmates face when trying to reintegrate into society. “We normally reject people from prison, yet they just want to feel human again.
‘‘As a young man, know you are on your own. You are responsible for your destiny. Don’t wait for your father to decide your life, think for yourself,” he concluded.
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