Veteran Kenyan music producer and entrepreneur Tedd Josiah has issued a powerful call for men to support one another and seek emotional help, urging society to break the cycle of silence that has long surrounded men’s mental health struggles.
As the world marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Josiah is using his platform to challenge deeply rooted societal expectations that often discourage men from expressing vulnerability, seeking support, or openly discussing emotional challenges.
“Men are twice as likely to remove themselves from this world than women are,” Tedd said.
Known affectionately as “The Man Mom” for raising his daughter as a single father following the death of his wife, Josiah has become a respected voice on issues affecting fathers, families, and emotional well-being.
His latest message focuses on the urgent need for men to prioritize their mental health and create supportive communities where vulnerability is embraced rather than condemned.
According to Josiah, many men grow up believing they must suppress their emotions to prove their strength. From an early age, boys are often taught that crying, showing pain, or asking for help are signs of weakness. These beliefs, he argues, continue to harm generations of men and contribute to emotional suffering that frequently goes unnoticed.
He specifically challenged the commonly used phrase “man up,” which has long been associated with emotional suppression.
Josiah encouraged men to allow themselves to experience and express genuine emotions when faced with pain, disappointment, grief, or personal struggles.
In his view, shedding tears should not be seen as a weakness but as a healthy emotional response that can prevent deeper psychological distress.
Josiah believes this culture of silence has consequences that extend far beyond individual lives.
He warned that emotionally wounded men can unintentionally contribute to broader social challenges affecting families and communities.
According to the producer, a society filled with broken men ultimately creates broken families, strained relationships, and unhealthy communities.
For this reason, he emphasized that mental wellness should not be viewed solely as a personal issue but as a collective responsibility that impacts society as a whole.
Josiah also highlighted the importance of self-love and emotional healing.
He called on men to create safe spaces where friends, relatives, and colleagues can openly discuss their struggles without fear of judgment, ridicule, or rejection.
According to him, meaningful support often begins with listening.
Many men, he noted, simply need someone willing to hear their concerns without immediately offering criticism or dismissing their experiences.
