Mental health advocates, medical professionals, and creatives have called for increased awareness, early intervention, and stronger support systems for men battling depression, addiction, and other emotional struggles.
They made the call at the 2025 Fight for Life Men’s Mental Health Conference organised by Black Images Media Concepts, with the theme “Navigating Depression in Men.”
Founder of the initiative and host of the Mindfully with Tunmise podcast, Tunmise Oladapo-Kuku, said the event was purposely held in November in line with an annual men’s event globally known as Movember, a period dedicated to raising awareness on men’s mental health, prostate cancer, and suicide prevention.
She described men as central to family and societal wellbeing, but often left without guidance or emotional support.
“Women are raised to be wives, mothers, and sisters. A man is raised simply to ‘be a man.’ No one teaches men how to be fathers, husbands, or nurturers,” she said. “When a man is whole, the entire family benefits. If we give attention to this natural order, society will function better.”
Oladapo-Kuku stressed that emotional literacy for men must begin early, long before marriage or fatherhood.
“The best time to be a man, fully aware, grounded, and value-driven, is now. You are a father before the fact, not after the fact,” she added.
A consultant psychiatrist at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, and keynote speaker, Dr. Emmanuel Abayomi, emphasized that depression in men often goes unrecognized.
Although global data shows women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, he noted that men die by suicide at four times the rate of women. “This shows a disconnect. Many depressed men are simply not identified,” he noted.
He highlighted common but often overlooked symptoms, especially among men, to include sudden changes in sleep, insomnia or oversleeping, fluctuating appetite, loss of appetite or excessive eating, persistent irritability, aggression or unexplained sadness, and loss of interest in hobbies.
Others are constant fatigue, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness, forgetfulness and low self-esteem, and reduced libido
Dr. Abayomi urged families and communities to be more observant and supportive, rather than attributing such symptoms to spiritual attacks or “village people.”
He also noted that although the government has established psychiatric hospitals and teaching hospital units across the country, more awareness and grassroots education are needed.
“Access to care exists, but people do not know. Private organisations, media, and individuals must help spread accurate information,” he said.
Addressing men directly, he added, “You are not weak when you ask for help. You are not alone. Depression is a disease of the brain, and it is treatable. Speak up.”