MIND SPACE

  Growing up, many of us watched our fathers carry the weight of the entire world on their shoulders without ever uttering a single complaint. They were the ultimate providers, the unshakeable rocks of the family. If they were stressed, they worked harder. If they were hurting, they buried it deeper. Our parents, especially the men, never used to seek help. In our society, a man’s tears were treated like a myth, and his mental struggles were hidden away behind closed doors, masked by long hours at work or silence. For generations, African masculinity has been defined by endurance. We were taught that to be a man means to suffer in silence, to protect everyone else while leaving yourself entirely unprotected. But this cycle of silent suffering is breaking us. A lot of men today do not seek help for their mental health because of how society looks at them. We fear being labeled as “weak,” “soft,” or told  “ba musajja” (be a man) and deal with it. We wear a mask of strength to...

  The news arrived like a sudden storm, leaving us anchored in shock. A classmate, someone full of life, purpose, and infectious kindness, was suddenly gone. One day we are sharing goals, laughter, and school stories from the past; the next, we are left holding nothing but memories and the heavy “what-ifs” of the future. How do you explain grief? It is like the air around us. You cannot see it, you cannot touch it, but you can feel its crushing weight aching deep inside your chest. Losing someone is a pain that changes us forever. In our journey through life, classmates turn into siblings and we watch strangers become mentors. When that bond is broken, the silence left behind is deafening. To help us understand this invisible ache, we often look at the stages of grief. However, grief is rarely a straight line; it is an emotional path we must walk together. Stage 1: The Numbness of Shock and Denial In the immediate aftermath, your mind protects you by refusing to believe reali...