Banio Nobert
Last Saturday, Radio Pacis invited my team to speak on the Youth Program.
Eduardo Fortunato and Kokora Patricia did a great job representing us. The theme was mental health, with a special focus on the struggles of men and boys.
It reminded me of the tears we see at every Boys to Men Mentorship Camp. There has never been a camp without a boy crying, especially during the sessions on trauma, pain, and healing.
I remember a teenager, let’s call him Jayden for this specific article. Bright. Strong. Always respectful. A natural leader. The kind of boy people say, “That one has a future.” But behind the smile, he was carrying something heavy.
One evening, while others were heading to bed, after laughing near the campfire, Jayden came to me quietly. “Coach Nobert, what do you do when your mind is tired, but you don’t even know why? A man is supposed to be strong, right?”
That moment has never left me. Because his question is the silent cry of many boys.
From childhood, most boys are told not to cry, to hide pain, to man up. So they grow up afraid to speak. They bury their emotions. They pretend. But slowly, they break quietly and deeply.
What causes this pain? A missing father. A broken home. Constant comparison. Rejection. Pressure to succeed. Lack of affirmation. And very few are told it is okay to talk. On the other side, there are also those who are over shielded from pain so they don’t build resilience. When tough moments come, they are knocked off terribly.
The signs are there. Sudden anger. Isolation. Sleeping all day. Addictions. Recklessness. A fake smile hiding real pain. Glued to that TV, phone. Porn. Can you imagine thatt, porn sites collectively had over 100 billion visits in 2025, mostly by young men. What if your boy is part of that statistic. Women too struggle with mental health issues.
Globally, 970 million people live with mental disorders. Over 800,000 people die by suicide every year. Most are men. Over 30% of Ugandans (about 15 million) have mental health issues. Yet, there are only 53 psychiatrists, most based in cities. The silence is deadly.
The average Ugandan hasn’t even seen a psychologist from a far. Most people who try to provide advise haven’t healed from their own trauma. Maybe, it is time for more people to interest themselves with this subject so as to support more people dealing with life.
Healing starts when we stop pretending. Real strength is not silence. It is feeling, speaking, and choosing to grow.
At the upcoming camps in Gulu (August), and in Kampala and Arua (January), we shall continue to talk about trauma, healing, addiction, mindset, leadership, business, money, public speaking, and practical skills.
Let us raise a new generation. Not boys pretending to be okay, but Real African Kings. Mentally strong. Emotionally whole.
Banio Luiji NobertC
oach | Speaker | Trainer | Author
Team Lead – Boys to Men Mentorship
+256775495431
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!
