By Katlego Sekhu
This morning Thomas and Skhumba launched a series focusing on mental health in men.
Thomas says in his circle of friends, they hardly speak about the issues affecting their mental well-being.
“We play golf for nearly five hours. Anybody mentions anything wrong at home we like ah jo, we came to play golf. And then there are drinks after the round of golf but we still don’t chat about our problems. And that’s wrong man,” he shares.
Skhumba adds that he’s always had many friends around him but very few of those he can speak to about his problems.
“You know the people that you keep around you, most of the time you don’t feel like they are the people you can talk to when you are going through a lot of things.
“I used to have a lot of friends. I’d wake up at 6 in the morning already six of my friends are in my yard. The more we grow up is the more we have responsibilities and that comes with a lot of weight. Most of us are not trained to be mentally strong.”
Skhumba is on good terms with his father but is more comfortable speaking to his mother about his personal issues.
“I’m good with my dad but I’d rather go to my mom. I don’t know if my relationship with my dad is strong to a point where I can speak to him about what I’m going through,” he shares.
Thomas says he blocked off a lot of people when he was going through his divorce.
“When I was going through the divorce I heard from people I hadn’t heard from in years. It felt like some were just looking for gossip but didn’t care about me. I’d rather block off people and go through it alone because I have trust issues,” he adds.
The team asks Kaya 959’s male listeners: “What does getting help for mental health issues mean and look like to you my brother. Who do you talk to? do you find it easy to find someone to pick up the phone and say – can we meet up for a drink because I need to talk to you about something?”
Check out some of the responses on social media
#ThomasAndSkhumba I do agree with the caller when he says"As majitha we dont give good advise;as a man you are own your own"Is taught to find someone to talk to;we stab each other at the back instead helping. @thomasmsengana @skhumbi
— LethukuthulaLuthango (@Samluthango) March 1, 2022
Heavy topic gents. Very heavy. Nothing deflates one than having no one to turn and talk to. Worse, when those that are supposed to be your peace shove you deeper and deeper into a dark space #ThomasAndSkhumba
— FreshPrince©®™ (@SirFigo_SA) March 1, 2022
My son didn’t want to talk how he feels until I force him to talk , he said he is angry bcz his father left and not calling him anymore . We had a had a deep conversation, then he told me he was told man don’t cry, now he cries and talk.let us check & talk to them.#saveaboychild
— SillyB (@Silly39149860) March 1, 2022
The men in my life don’t know were to start…& even when I talk to them telling them that I’m here…they say to me “asifani nani abafazi” & they keep quiet…it is so painful to see that site really 😔😔😔
— Alos (@alo_vilakazi) March 1, 2022
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