Ryan Swano
A rarity in our society is finding safe spaces for men to have vulnerable conversations about their mental health and emotional well-being.
In South Africa, September is Suicide Awareness Month. International statistics reveal that worldwide, suicide rates among men are at least three times higher than among women. A huge contributing factor towards this statistic is the stigma attached to men seeking mental healthcare, or even just openly talking to anyone about their problems and emotional wellness.
The South African film, TV and theatre actor, voiceover artist and musician Danny Ross, with his new podcast series, When Men Heal, candidly speaks about his own anger issues and trauma, and his journey with therapy. He hopes to inspire more men to take ownership of their mental health.
Seeking Professional Help
In the first episode of When Men Heal – Marriage and Therapy, which you can watch further below, Danny Ross and his wife, Fabiola Venegas Orozco, talk about how they met, marriage and going for therapy.
“Not long after we got married, we were struggling to find healthier ways of dealing with conflict. I discovered that I had underlying anger and couldn’t communicate how I was truly feeling.”
“I decided to seek professional help to understand why I had this built-up anger. And now I’m dedicated to help boys and men to have more vulnerable and healthier conversations about the challenges we so often keep to ourselves.”
Danny Ross has starred in local films that include Nommer 37 and Barakat, both available for streaming on Showmax, and international films that include 24 Hours to Live, which stars Ethan Hawke, Death Race 3 from Universal Pictures, and the Netflix production Resident Evil.
The actor who is also known for his roles in various telenovelas including Broken Vows (ETV), Arendsvlei (kykNET) and soap operas which include the SABC2 soapie 7de Laan and the kykNET soapies Binnelanders, Villa Rosa, Suidooster, and the Cape Flats neo-noir series, Skemerdans, announced the launch of When Men Heal with Danny Ross on various social media platforms.
Underlying Anger and Trauma
“After discovering I had underlying anger and trauma and struggled to communicate how I truly felt in a healthy way, I decided to seek professional help from a clinical psychologist. I came to realise how difficult it was to find a safe space as a man to have these vulnerable conversations so by creating this platform I hope to inspire more men to take ownership of their mental health.”
“So here I am, on this ongoing healing journey and still figuring it out.”
“If any of this resonates with you, stay tuned and let’s see where it takes us. Sending a Big Hug to all men out there suffering in silence”
Interestingly, the 2025 film, The Heart is a Muscle, which premiered at this year’s Silwerskerm Film Festival, in which Danny Ross plays Anees, deals with issues of Men’s Mental Health.
The Heart Is a Muscle, starring Keenan Arrison as Ryan, tells the story of a young father’s search for a better version of himself, and of masculinity, transgenerational trauma and healing.
The film was also shown at a fully booked out free community screening in Wynberg as part of the Silwerskermfees.
Men’s Mental Health has never been a “trendy hot topic” and only briefly comes to the fore when unhealed men commit unthinkable acts sprouting from their anger and trauma.
We cannot afford to simply continue showing sensationalist outrage at the fallout when unhealed men act out. We need to stop the tide.
We need to normalise Mental Healthcare & Emotional Wellness for Men so that we can drastically decrease the amount of unhealed men hurting others and hurting themselves.
WATCH: Marriage and therapy with my wife Fabiola Venegas Orozco I When men heal with Danny Ross
Women’s Voices on Men’s Mental Health
Danny Ross, with his new podcast, When Men Heal, adds to a growing number of voices that advocate for Men’s Mental Health.
It is very important that women’s voices and their support is also sought and acknowledged in the cause of normalisling the pursuit of Men’s Mental Health. Thus it is very much encouraging that Danny’s wife, Fabiola Venegas Orozco, participates, and quite candidly so, in When Men Heal.
Another such voice whose show anouncements we regularly share on our Bruinou.com Facebook Page is Iona Beukes.
Men UNpaused, and Men Matter, are shows hosted by Iona Beukes on Future Club Radio, covering men’s issues focusing on men’s mental health, but also includes topics about relationships, finance, and workplace bullying. There has for example been a recent episode on Men Matter that focused on debt, since financial troubles is one of the highest contributing factors to suicide among men.
I highly recommend that both men and women watch Danny’s podcasts, and also listen to shows like Men UNpaused and Men Matter, as they are not aiming to stand as an excuse for men behaving badly, but endeavour to change the way men, and women, see the importance of Men’s Mental Health in our collective quest to build a better society.
Subscribe to the When Men Heal with Danny Ross YouTube Channel
Follow Danny Ross on Instagram
September is Suicide Awareness Month
According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), in South Africa there are 23 suicides and 230 serious attempts recorded a day.
Do not feel ashamed to seek help.
If you or a friend are dealing with suicidal thoughts and need someone to talk to, please contact the SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline or one of the other Toll-free Numbers or WhatsApp numbers below.
24-HOUR TOLL-FREE EMERGENCY HELPLINES
Suicide Crisis Helpline
0800 567 567
Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline
0800 12 13 14
SMS 32312
Cipla Mental Health Helpline
0800 456 789
SMS 31393
NPOwer SA Helpline
0800 515 515
SMS 43010
Healthcare Workers Care Network Helpline
0800 21 21 21
SMS 43001
UFS #Fair Kitchens Chefs Helpline
0800 006 333
WHATSAPP NUMBERS
8AM – 5PM
Cipla Mental Health
076 882 2775
Maybelline BraveTogether
087 163 2030
Ke Moja Substance Abuse
087 163 2025
Have Hope Chat Line
087 163 2050
