Prof. Eugenia Akpa, a Gender Studies scholar and mental health advocate, has called for greater attention to the psychological well-being of men affected by conflict, particularly those living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and refugee camps.
In an interview on Sunday in Abuja, Prof. Akpa emphasised that while the needs of women and children are often prioritised in humanitarian responses, the mental health challenges faced by men in conflict-affected settings are frequently overlooked.
She explained that men are typically on the front-lines during conflicts, facing direct exposure to violence, death, or the loss of their traditional roles as protectors and providers.
“Those who survive often struggle with shame, helplessness, and a loss of identity,” she said.
“Men are not expected to be in camps. They’re expected to be at the battlefront. But those who survive—elderly, injured, or unable to fight—end up in camps with women and children. The loss of control and identity can be deeply traumatic.”
Read Also: NUJ, Nizamiye Hospital Provides Journalists Free Check-ups
Prof. Akpa noted that many displaced men experience profound psychological distress, particularly when they can no longer fulfil their traditional roles within the family.
“In the camp, they are at the mercy of aid. That alone—being unable to act as provider—causes psychological strain,” she said.
She warned that unaddressed trauma in men can manifest as withdrawal or aggression, with some displaced men turning to gender-based violence (GBV) in a bid to reassert control.
“Some still stamp their masculinity with violence, saying, ‘I’m still the man.’ This is part of why gender-based violence thrives in camps,” Akpa explained.
She called for mental healt interventions specifically tailored to the experiences of men in displacement settings.
These, she said, should include counselling, awareness-raising programmes, and gender-sensitive psychosocial support.
“Such men must first accept that, in spite of being men, they are still human beings affected by crisis.
“Understanding and accepting this new vulnerability is key to recovery.”
Prof. Akpa urged humanitarian workers and host communities to avoid stigmatising displaced men and instead offer support for recovery and reintegration.
“We must approach them not as failed men, but as survivors of crisis who also deserve healing and dignity.”