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Unmasking Men’s Mental Health: Breaking the Silence
Jun 4, 2025
June 9–16 is Men’s Mental Health Week. For generations, society has taught men to “man up,” hide their emotions, and suffer in silence. As a result, too many men are struggling behind closed doors, wearing masks to hide how they’re really feeling.
These societal expectations—along with cultural norms and toxic masculinity—often discourage men from speaking about mental health or seeking help. This can increase the risk of isolation, depression, substance use, risk-taking behaviours, anger, and, too often, suicide.
The Alarming Reality
Mental health does not discriminate—but when it comes to how it impacts men, the numbers speak volumes:
- Men have a suicide rate three times higher than women.1
- Of the estimated 4,000 suicide deaths in Canada each year, close to 75% are men.2
- Men are significantly less likely to seek mental health support or therapy.
These aren’t just numbers. They represent fathers, brothers, friends, and sons—lives lost to silence, stigma, and shame.
How You Can Help
Start the conversation. Ask the men in your life how they’re really doing—and listen without judgment. Normalize therapy. Encourage professional support just like you would for physical health.
Share resources. Promote mental health supports and spaces where men can connect.
Challenge toxic masculinity. Redefine strength to include empathy, vulnerability, and courage.
Let’s commit to building a world where men feel safe enough to unmask how they’re really feeling. Learn more: MensMentalHealthMonth.ca
If you need it, help is available.
Resources
- 211 Men’s Helpline: is a free, confidential service for adult men, and individuals who identify as men, who have concerns about their well-being, safety, and/or the safety of others. Please note: The Men’s Helpline is not a crisis line.
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline is a safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
- Healthy Minds Cooperative Men’s Peer Support Group offers a non-judgmental space to share and connect with other men. This is a place of encouragement and acceptance for men to speak openly about their challenges in a peer-based, supportive setting
- Membertou Men’s Society is a social group that offers guidance, support and community to Indigenous men and youth. The society operates within Membertou First Nation.
- Buddy Up is a men’s suicide prevention campaign: a call to action for men, by men, to drive authentic conversation amongst men and their buddies that promotes connection and wellbeing.
- MenTELL is a Canadian initiative that challenges the status quo by encouraging men to speak up, share their stories, and support one another through lived experience.
- Canadian Men’s Health Foundation provides men and their families with practical tools and expert advice to live healthier.
- Next Gen Men is a small-but-mighty Canadian nonprofit whose work is dedicated to one ambitious thing—to change how the world sees, acts and thinks about masculinity.
- SickNotWeak a charity founded by Michael Landsberg in 2016 to change society’s view of mental illness. It aims to bring comfort, hope, and strength to those who believe they are weak.