Relationship
The unsung heroines (women): How young women can help young men overcome depression
DEPRESSION is a growing concern among young men, who are often socialised to suppress their emotions and maintain a tough exterior. However, this stigma can lead to devastating consequences, including increased rates of substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and strained relationships.
In this article, I will explore the impact of depression on young men and the crucial role some young women play in helping overcome it.
The effects of depression on
young men
Depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. However, young men are particularly vulnerable due to societal expectations and traditional masculine norms. The pressure to conform to these norms can lead to:
1. Emotional suppression: Young men may feel forced to hide their emotions, leading to isolation and disconnection.
2. Increased risk-taking behaviour: Depression manifests as reckless behaviour, such as substance abuse or aggression, as a way to cope with emotional pain.
3. Strained relationships: Depression damages relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners, exacerbating feelings of loneliness.
The role of young women in
solving depression
Young women can play a vital role in helping young men overcome depression. By being supportive, understanding, and empathetic, they can help break down the stigma surrounding mental health. Here are three effective steps young women can take:
Step 1: Listen without judgment
Create a safe space for young men to express their emotions without fear of judgment or criticism. Listen actively, and validate their feelings, acknowledging that their experiences are real and worthy of attention.
Step 2: Encourage professional help
Support young men in seeking professional help, such as therapy or counselling. Offer to help them find resources, make appointments, or accompany them to sessions. Please encourage them to prioritise their mental health and well-being.
Step 3: Foster a supportive environment
Create a supportive environment by promoting open conversations about mental health. Encourage young men to express themselves, and model healthy emotional expression yourself. By doing so, you can help break down the stigma surrounding depression and create a culture of understanding and empathy.
Conclusion
Depression is a complex issue that requires a supportive and non-judgmental approach. Young women can play a vital role in helping young men overcome depression by listening without judgment, encouraging professional help, and fostering a supportive environment. By working together, we can create a culture that promotes mental health, understanding, and empathy. Let’s break the silence and support each other in the journey towards healing and recovery.
-Jerry Fiadzenu(AUCB Student)
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Aries
You are a warrior by nature, try to balance out your own needs to ensure you do not give all of yourself to another. Give yourself some love, too!
Taurus
Do not fret, the secrets being hidden are not bad and are beneficial to your future. In fact, you will be super happy when they are revealed. Then, you can make strategic moves forward.
Gemini
Your friendship circle is evolving, allowing you to meet new people who will become your best buds over time. Embrace the rare chance to connect and engage with others you meet now.
Cancer
Home is where your heart is this week. And the more reason for you to start making yourself feel cozier in your space now. Treat yourself to a few new items to decorate and spruce up your pad to get in the spring spirit. Add fresh.
Leo
Lean into your higher mind and vibe. This will give you the ultimate opportunity to achieve personal fulfillment and spiritual growth over the next few months. Doing so will encourage you to reach new personal heights.
Virgo
Standing up for yourself takes a lot of guts and confidence. Luckily for you, you are able to assert your view against others and defend yourself against those who aim to bring you down.
Libra
Making your mark on the world is challenging, but you are headed in the right direction. As long as you accept that you need to be a leader rather than an innovator in your endeavours, you can take on your goals with success.
Scorpio
You are being introspective and plotting your next moves on and off this week. Take this time and energy to strategise the upcoming sunny days, so you can use them to your advantage and achieve your desires.
Sagittarius
It is time to get creative! This means busting out your drawing board, paintbrushes and colour palette to make art. Whether it is for professional endeavours or for pleasure, you will be inspired to bring your passions to light
Capricorn
Work is becoming very chaotic at the moment and requires all of your time, but you have the chance to balance out your vibe and not focus on professional endeavours. Find your chill spot and lean into self-care.
Aquarius
You are feeling extra chatty and more able to engage with friends. Word of advice: think before you speak to avoid conflict with others.
Pisces
This week gives you the chance to restart, reboot and get motivated to take on new opportunities. The question is: Are you ready now?
Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
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