Men’s forum to tackle violence, mental wellness and stigma

Men and boys will be at the centre of discussions on violence, mental wellness, stigma and other social challenges when the Directorate of Gender Affairs hosts its “Man in the Mirror” Men’s Forum on Wednesday, August 12th.

The four-hour forum, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Inland Revenue Department, forms part of the Directorate’s Men’s Critical Issues Series under its Masculinity Portfolio.

The initiative is intended to provide a constructive, non-judgmental environment for men to have frank discussions about the challenges they face and the wider social factors influencing masculinity, relationships, violence, mental wellness and help-seeking behaviours.

Community leaders, legal experts and counselling professionals are expected to participate, examining the root causes of social vulnerabilities and offering practical tools to help men navigate difficult circumstances.

The forum will also address the stigma often associated with men seeking counselling, mental health support and other forms of assistance.

Executive Director of the Directorate of Gender Affairs Jamie Saunders said ensuring that issues affecting men and boys remain part of the national conversation is an important aspect of the organisation’s work.

“The Directorate of Gender Affairs continues to make a concerted effort to ensure that issues affecting men and boys in Antigua and Barbuda remain prominent within national discourse and within the organisation’s programming,” Saunders said.

“Gender equality requires taking a people-centred approach, which includes men and boys and recognises their unique needs and challenges.”

Programme Officer for Men’s and Mental Health Rafiq Martin said the forum will challenge men to confront difficult issues that are often left unspoken.

“Man in the Mirror invites men to sit with some of the most difficult conversations our society has long avoided: what drives violence, what our silence costs us, and what it truly means to hear and respect the word ‘no’,” Martin said.

He said meaningful change requires men to examine their own attitudes, behaviours and experiences.

“Real change begins when men are willing to look at themselves honestly, and this event creates the space to do exactly that,” he said.

Martin said the initiative is also intended to reach men who have experienced violence, trauma or other forms of harm.

“This event is also an invitation to allow men who have experienced harm to know that there is a safe space for them too. Seeking help is not weakness; it is one of the most courageous things a man can do, and the Directorate of Gender Affairs stands ready to support that journey,” he said.

The forum will be a targeted stakeholder consultation involving invited male delegates and representatives of organisations from across Antigua and Barbuda.

Although the in-person session will be closed to the general public to encourage candid discussion, the proceedings will be livestreamed and recorded.

The recorded discussions will later be made available through media and public broadcast platforms, allowing the wider population to benefit from the information and discussions emerging from the forum.

The Directorate said the initiative forms part of its wider efforts to promote healthier individuals, families and communities while ensuring that the concerns of both women and men remain part of national development.