Why Supporting Men’s Mental Health is the Ultimate Gift to Children

Photo Credit: Norleen Zulu

Emotionally healthy men help raise emotionally healthy children. This was the heart of Child Mental Health Advocate Norleen Zulu’s latest campaign to champion men’s mental health during the month of June – because supported men show up for the children who depend on them.

Johannesburg, South Africa (05 July 2026) – When working with children, it’s important to take into account all the factors that contribute to their world and well-being.

Education Specialist and Child Mental Health Advocate Norleen Zulu knows this well and saw Men’s Mental Health Month as the perfect opportunity to focus her attention on the fathers and male caregivers who are often acknowledged only around Father’s Day and largely for their role as providers.

“Over the years, I have come to understand that children cannot thrive if we overlook the wellbeing of the adults raising, teaching and guiding them,” Norleen tells us.

She notes that while society rightly invests in children and is increasingly recognising the well-being of mothers and female caregivers, men are rarely celebrated, supported or even asked how they are doing. Yet they need to show up fully for the young people who rely on them.

“Men carry enormous responsibility in their homes, workplaces and communities, yet many have been conditioned to suppress their emotions rather than process them. Their struggles often remain unseen until they begin affecting their relationships, their health and, ultimately, the children who depend on them.”

Education With Norleen’s (EWN) Men Who Show Up campaign was born from the understanding that men’s mental health is not separate from children’s wellbeing – it is one of its foundations.

“When fathers, teachers, coaches, mentors and male caregivers are emotionally healthy, children are more likely to experience secure relationships, stronger emotional regulation, greater resilience and improved educational outcomes,” Norleen explains.

The campaign ran throughout June as part of Men’s Mental Health Month, where EWN collaborated with various stakeholders, psychologists and businesses to bring men’s mental health into everyday conversations.

“Through wellness and EMS training sessions, coffee conversations with fathers, workplace wellness discussions, media interviews and digital storytelling, we encouraged honest dialogue around the realities men face and the importance of seeking support.”
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At the heart of the campaign was one simple message: emotionally healthy men help raise emotionally healthy children.

But Norleen’s vision extends far beyond June.

“We want these conversations to become part of everyday life rather than something we revisit once a year. Our aim is to raise awareness around men’s mental health, reduce stigma and encourage men to seek support without fear or shame.”

The hope is that through these meaningful interventions and conversations, men will be equipped with practical tools to manage stress, navigate workplace pressures, understand the connection between physical and mental wellbeing and develop healthier ways of coping with life’s challenges.

Because supporting men’s mental health is, ultimately, one of the most meaningful ways to champion children’s wellbeing.

As Norleen concludes:

“If we truly want healthier children, stronger families and better educational outcomes, we must also invest in the mental wellbeing of the men who help raise, teach and guide them.”