VANDERBIJLPARK – Sasol has teamed up with Primestars to launch an eye-opening campaign called What About the Boys?
The project is aimed at tackling the mental health crisis and toxic masculinity plaguing young men in Mzansi.
As the country prepared for World Mental Health Day on October 10, the initiative couldn’t have come at a better time as it was launched at Vaal Mall on October 4.
According to the petroleum firm, they are taking the lead in addressing the social pressures boys face, like academic stress, social media influence, and unemployment worries that often push them toward harmful behaviour, including gender-based violence (GBV).
Statistics have shown that over 27% of South Africans suffer from depression, with young men feeling the brunt of it.
According to Sasol’s Vice President of CSI, Gao Mothoagae, it’s time to address these issues head-on.
“GBV and mental health issues affect everyone, regardless of background. We’re creating safe spaces for boys to learn healthy masculinity and tackle these pressures before they explode into something dangerous,” said Mothoagae.
As part of the campaign, Sasol screened the What About the Boys? film, sparking much-needed conversations on how society can support boys in becoming emotionally healthy men.
Employees and their children were invited to the exclusive screenings, while schools in Sasol’s fenceline communities will make it part of the curriculum.
As if that’s not enough, Sasol has also enlisted its male employees to serve as mentors, guiding young boys through the struggles of modern life and offering support for their mental health challenges.
With screenings and open discussions playing out during the event, the hope was to reshape the way boys think about masculinity, mental health, and personal responsibility.
