Mr Mpumalanga finalist steps it up

A finalist of Mr Mpumalanga 2022, Abednico Ntsako Mabaso, held the Step Up for a Boy Child Fun Walk. The walk started at Masana Boutique Hotel and ended at eMbiteni Leisure and Entertainment on Saturday May 7.

The aim was to roll out an awareness campaign to educate young men about the importance of mental health and groom them into becoming better adults
in the future.

Anxiety, depression, and other forms of “silent” emotional disorders, are a few of the major conditions that cause some South African men to commit suicide.

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In February a veteran actor, Patrick Shai, took his own life in his Soweto home, while another iconic South African rapper, Ricky Rick, left his legion of fans grieving after committing suicide, also in February.

This week, a 23-year-old Gomora actor, Siyabonga Zubane, took his life.

When educating the group, Mabaso said the men needed to be mentored and educated about speaking up.

“There are a lot of vital issues faced, and bottled up, by men which lead to committing suicide. Boys from a young age need to be taught how to deal with emotions, and they must know that speaking up regarding their issues is a strength rather than a weakness. They need to know that it is
right to seek help when dealing with things and it is not wrong to cry.”

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“As a society we need to break the toxic masculinity with its cultural norms and gender stereotypes that have been passed down through the years, because they are poison to men in particular. Societies need to have support groups which will favour both men and women in their journey
of figuring things out.”