By Immaculate Kisembo | Laudato Youth Initiative, Mental Health, writer
As we celebrate the month of June known as Men’s Mental Health, I would like to focus on young males particularly those in Laudato Si Clubs and the school environment where I work as a teacher. When thinking about Mental Health Awareness, it’s essential to ask: What really happens in the mind of a boy? Behind their playful energy, strong expectations, and cultural pressures, lies a fragile internal environment that we must learn to recognize, protect, and nurture.
The Internal Environment: A Silent Battleground
In my community service work with the Laudato Youth Initiative, one consistent reality has emerged: many boys and young men are silently battling internal storms. We see them actively engaged in various activities but they often shy away from others that could enhance their skill sets. I have had to encourage boys to participate in club activities because they tend to hesitate in situations that seem best suited for them.
The reality is that involvement is not just about tasks requiring strength, decision making or spiritual growth. Its also about emotional presence, mental awareness and psychological safety. Unfortunately boys often grow up hearing strength means silence and masculinity means not showing fear or sadness. In our efforts to make them resilient we unintentionally suppress their need for vulnerability and emotional expression.
Societal Expectations and Emotional Suppression
Whether it’s in schools, homes, or even churches, boys are often shaped by messages like:
- “Man up.”
- “Don’t cry like a girl.”
- “Real men don’t talk about feelings.”
- “Men don’t show their weakness”
- “Don’t be a sissy”
These statements are not just words; they are instructions for emotional disconnection. The results are clear: boys are afraid to share their fears, ashamed to cry, or unsure of how to ask for help. As we explore integral ecology the Laudato Si’ vision of caring for both people and the planet let us not forget that the internal ecology of a child, especially a boy, is just as sacred. Their minds are part of creation too. Just as we plant trees and protect biodiversity, we must also tend to the emotional soil of our youth.
The Link Between Mental Health and the Environment
At Laudato Youth, we believe in the healing power of both community and nature. We’ve seen it in our tree-planting campaigns, ecological Masses, and clean-up events young people feel emotionally lighter when they are connected to nature, to purpose, and to one another. In a previous reflection, I wrote:“Laudato Youth are not just planting trees they’re sowing hope, healing, and justice.” It’s the same with mental health. By helping boys find safe, nonjudgmental spaces to express themselves, we help them plant seeds of emotional stability, resilience, and wholeness.
My Advice to Fellow Youth Leaders
As a teacher and mental health advocates,I recommend the following practical ways to support boys’ mental health:
- Create Safe Spaces for Expression: Host regular dialogues, storytelling sessions, or support groups where boys can share freely without judgment.
- Normalize Emotions: Model healthy emotional expression. Let boys know it’s okay to cry, to feel overwhelmed, or to ask for help.
- Engage them with Nature: Encourage activities like gardening, cleanups, or reflective walks. Nature is a powerful space for emotional healing.
- Be Present and Observant: Pay attention to the “quiet ones.” Silence doesn’t necessarily always mean peace. Check in simply and consistently.
- Incorporate Mental Health into Faith Formation:Use scripture, prayer, and spiritual mentoring to remind boys that caring for their mind is part of honoring God’s creation.
Let Us Break the Silence
As we celebrate Men’s Mental Health Month, let’s commit to breaking the silence.Let us encourage boys to speak about their internal environment challenges. let us walk with them patiently, consistently and compassionately. When a boy is taught that his feelings matter, he becomes a man who knows how to heal and to help others heal too. Let us support the men in our lives. Small acts of support can make a big difference.
Bibliography & References
- Kisembo, I. (2024). Mental Health and Nature: The Healing Connection. Internal Training Notes, LYI.
- World Health Organization (2023). Adolescent Mental Health: Key Facts.
- Boys to Men: Addressing Mental Health in Africa. African Child Mental Health Journal, Vol. 3 (2022).
