HERA – Health Education and Research Association has opened the first MM Center for Counseling and Support for Boys and Men. The center will offer free counseling services provided by psychotherapists and psychologists.
Counseling sessions will be conducted either in person or through virtual channels, in both Macedonian and Albanian. The center will be open for counseling on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Appointments can be scheduled via the following phone number: 070/299-026, email: viktor.buchkovski@hera.org.mk, or through the Instagram profile: man.mind.skopje.
At the press conference marking the opening of the Center, HERA’s Program Manager, Vesna Matevska, highlighted the necessity of such centers within the system, showing data and research from the past several years. Gender equality applies to both girls and boys, as well as women and men. Gender equality also means providing support and care for the mental and physical health of boys and men. Silence is not the answer when boys lack the strength to face challenges.
This is supported by findings from the international HBSC study, which indicates that violence among boys in Macedonia most often occurs within or between peer groups. In the past 12 months, 24% of boys (compared to 8% of girls in classes taught in Macedonian) and 21% of boys (compared to 2% of girls in classes taught in Albanian) reported being involved in physical fights two or more times. Boys are significantly more violent than girls, primarily due to the social acceptance of such behavior, which is seen as a part of “being masculine” when growing. However, this can lead to harm to others or even self-harm.
Additionally, a recent study by the National Youth Council reveals that young people are facing serious mental health challenges. The findings are alarming: 58% of young people struggle with anxiety, while 64% experience feelings of depression.
Research conducted by Reactor shows that men constitute the majority of victims of violent crimes, such as severe assaults and homicides, typically done by other men. Additionally, men are at a higher risk of suicide. The same study reveals that young boys and men struggling with anxiety or depression often fear sharing their thoughts or feelings. They believe that opening up about the challenges affecting their daily lives would make them appear as “weak men” in the eyes of others.
Matevska emphasized that if these are the statistics describing the mental health state of boys and men in our country, it is clear why such a support center is necessary. This center will provide a safe and welcoming environment where boys and men can openly discuss their needs and seek support without fear of being stigmatized. It will offer them a space to openly seek solutions for their challenges and a place where they can receive support for emotional growth and development.
The psychotherapists will work based on the model developed by the Austrian Association Verein Für Männer- und Geschlechterthemen Steiermark, with financial support from Austria’s Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection.
At the opening, psychologist and stress management expert Kiril Trojachanec addressed the audience, highlighting how societal expectations pressure boys from an early age to suppress their emotions leading to chronic stress and fragile mental health. Trojachanec sent a clear message and direct message to boys, stressing that silence is not the answer when facing peer violence.
Lenche Aleksovska Velichkovska, a sports psychologist, highlighted that expectations from coaches, teammates, and fans can serve as a motivating force for athletes to perform at their best, but when these expectations become excessive, they often results in increased stress, anxiety, and aggressive behavior.
