What to know
- June marks Men’s Mental Health Month, a campaign aimed at raising awareness of mental health challenges affecting men and boys.
- Government data shows young Canadian men have experienced worsening mental health trends over the past decade, including declines in self-reported mental health and increases in anxiety and mood disorders.
- Several Toronto residents linked mental health struggles to economic pressures such as rising living costs, stagnant wages, and expectations around being providers, saying these stresses can take a significant emotional toll.
- Interviewees said many men still feel uncomfortable discussing mental health concerns due to stigma and a lack of safe spaces, with some feeling unable to speak openly about their struggles at work or in social settings.
June is finally here, and it marks the beginning of Men’s Mental Health Month, a period to raise awareness and prevention related to the health and well-being of men and boys.
According to the Government of Canada, men across the country face a series of distinct mental health challenges, experiencing higher rates of certain conditions compared to women, including:
- Substance use and related harms
- Gambling problems
- Suicide
In addition, between 2012 and 2022 men between the ages of 15 and 24 have experienced concerning trends related to mental illness, facing a decline in self-reported mental health, and an increase in mood disorders and anxiety.
At the same time, men are also less likely to seek healthcare when needed, including mental health support, with the government reporting that 65 per cent of Canadian men will wait for over six days of symptoms before looking for a doctor.
To mark the beginning of this month, Now Toronto took to the streets to speak with residents about their mental health.
‘Cost of living is on a rise’
Between rising groceries costs, skyrocketing rent, and societal expectations, Torontonian Alex L. said it is not only his bank account that’s paying the price of the high cost of living, but also his mental health.
“I have a lot of worries in my life…because the salaries are stagnant, and the cost of living is on a rise,” he said.
“When I look back on men’s life back in the day, men used to be providers. Right now…that’s not the case.”
Still, Alex said it’s difficult for him to speak about his mental health struggles, as he feels society doesn’t provide enough safe spaces for men to open up.
“Society has certain expectations, and it’s like mostly we talk about the most vulnerable ones, and there is no safe space for men to talk about their issues, especially mental health,” he said.
“I cannot talk about [my issues] at work and stuff, because…I’m privileged in certain ways… [but] I struggle too.”
‘I have a great circle around me’
One resident, Matt L. said his mental health has been doing good, attributing it to cultivating good habits and having a support circle of loved ones around him.
“I have a really great circle around me. I have a great wife, great friends, try to take care of myself, try to be active, try to get a good routine in place. And so, I just try to be mindful of it,” he said.
Matt said although he believes it is becoming easier for men to speak up about mental health, he recognized it hasn’t always been that way due to stigma.
“I’m a millennial, so I grew up in the era of ‘just deal with it,’ ‘don’t talk about it,’ and I think a lot of people still have that mindset,” he said.
Another resident, Rafiu A., echoed this sentiment, saying that the combination of societal expectations for men, combined with today’s realities, including rising cost of living, are leading many like him to face mental health challenges.
In spite of that, he said many men still have difficulties expressing themselves and asking for help when needed, and sometimes lack safe spaces to do so.
“We got to change that, I think, so at least have some people [someone they] can talk to. If somebody’s your real friend, you should be able to have a shoulder to lean on,” he said.
