Building strong bodies and minds

IN SOUTH Africa, where societal expectations often demand that men shoulder life’s burdens in silence, the pressures of work, family, and responsibility can take a hidden toll.

- LUTHANDO VIKILAHLE

The result? Physical and mental health quietly slip down the priority list — often until it’s too late.

Statistics from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group paint a stark picture: one in three South Africans will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime, yet only one in 10 will get the help they need.

Even more alarming, suicide rates among men are five times higher than among women ~a haunting reminder of what happens when struggles go unspoken.

“Too many men are silently struggling because we’ve been conditioned to ‘man up’ instead of speak up,” says Tim Carter, Head of Brand at Planet Fitness. “But what we want men to know is this: we see you, we hear you, and we’re here for you.”