In commemoration of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Mindfully with Tunmise, a podcast hosted by Oluwatunmise Oladapo-Kuku, has held a special recording titled “Cultivating the Garden Within,” aimed at demystifying and destigmatizing conversations around men’s mental well-being.
Oladapo-Kuku, who is also the lead at Blackhemages Media Concept, described the podcast as a platform that “seeks to demystify the narratives around mental health and also to destigmatize conversations around mental health and ill health.”
She explained that ”cultivating the garden within” is about ensuring alignment between one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. “It’s about cultivating the seeds that your heart takes from the environment, from relationships, from the stories of origin to weed out the ones that don’t serve and nurture the ones that do,” she said.
Oladapo-Kuku referenced the global Movember movement observed annually in November which encourages men, particularly in Europe, to grow moustaches to raise awareness about men’s mental and prostate health.
“Last year, Mindfully with Tunmise had an only men’s conference to wrap up the Movember movement,” she noted. “It was so satisfying that we are planning a second edition this year.”
Explaining why she stepped aside on the mic for the special session, Oladapo-Kuku said, “I’m not a man, so it would be easier for men to have conversations. I just gave them this platform.”
She expressed hope that the conversations would encourage men to celebrate themselves, support the boy child, and begin to break societal conditioning around masculinity. The effort also aligns with her podcast’s Fight for Life project, which takes place annually on the last Saturday in November. This year’s edition is scheduled for November 29.
At the session, participants shared personal reflections on ”cultivating the garden within.”
Oluwaseun Dawodu said, “A garden is just a piece of land that with intentionality, we can get the best out of. If you want joy, happiness, or peace, then you must be intentional about planting those seeds.”
Speaking on men’s health, he noted that: “Men should just take care of themselves. They are usually the ones who will know something is wrong and do absolutely nothing about it until it becomes critical.”
He emphasized the importance of recognizing symptoms of stress and burnout, saying, “You feel burnt out, but you don’t know it. Learn to start sharing with people who care, not everyone will understand because they may have gone through it and survived, but that doesn’t mean you should suffer in silence.”
Another participant, Oluwakorede Peter Omopeloye, described “cultivating the garden within” as “doing things that give me inner peace.”
“Since I began this journey over three or four years ago, I’ve had less tummy aches, which means less stress. Your happiness is just controlled by you,” he said.
“I have put checks and balances in place for my mental health,” he concluded.
