The week of June 11–17 is Men’s Health Week in Canada. This initiative aims to inspire individual and societal changes to address some of the health-related challenges faced by masculine-identifying people. While it may feel easy to dismiss these challenges in light of the many commonly held stereotypes about men’s health, research into this topic indicates a clear need for a conversation.
Fact: Men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues and feel more stigmatized when they do talk about their mental health. Men are (alongside Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, whose respective months are also acknowledged in June) also more likely to die by suicide, indicating a significant level of distress in these communities—clearly this is an issue worth talking about.
In a recent webinar for CPA Assist, Mike Cameron outlines the S.O.A.R method for developing emotional fitness. He uses S.O.A.R—Slow down, Open up/ Observe, Accept, Reconnect—to teach men how to cope with trauma, manage stress, and improve their mental wellbeing. These tactics, combined with conversational aids recommended by platforms like 11 of Us in Edmonton and Next Gen Men in Calgary, can form a platform from which men can begin to improve mental wellbeing for themselves and their communities.
Change, however, cannot just happen at an individual level. Society also has a responsibility to end the stigmatization experienced by masculine people who share their mental illness. By listening to men who disclose mental health issues, encouraging them to access support, and continuing the conversation about mental wellbeing, we can all play a role in ensuring more people experience better mental wellness.
If you are experiencing mental health challenges, you can contact CPA Assist for judgement-free support. CPA Assist offers both crisis and non-crisis support—see what resources are available to CPAs and their families by visiting www.cpa-assist.ca.
Resources mentioned:
Men’s mental health stats
CPA Assist webinar – Mike Cameron
Next Gen Men
11 of Us Edmonton
