Jack Veitch, Canadian Mental Health Association.
June is Men’s Mental Health Month, a time where numerous organizations across North America battle the stigma many men face when dealing with their own mental health.
One of those organizations is the Canadian Mental Health Association, which has branches across the country and free options for residents to reach out to, whether it be for help or education.
Manager of Community Engagement & Education Jack Veitch says a lot of men are hesitant to reach out when they need it.
When it comes to why men don’t often reach out for mental health support, Veitch says it can be a number of factors.
One of them is the stigma from generations earlier, where ‘being manly’ meant sucking it up and internalizing your issues to get through the day. While the temperature on this mindset is cooling, Veitch says it’s still present today.
Another factor could be self-stigma, and making excuses not to reach out.
The numbers regarding men’s mental health are jarring for many, as middle-aged men (45-64 years old) die by suicide more than anyone else, including 3 times more often than women, according to the Centre for Suicide Prevention. It’s also been found that men are 2-3 times more likely than women to use substances in a way that harms them, according to a study done by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics.
Overall, as we enter the home stretch of Men’s Mental Health Month, Veitch says there’s certainly been some progress in that area of mental health education and research, but there’s also still lots of work to do.
The Canadian Mental Health Association has 330 community locations across Canada, promoting mental health and support from people suffering from or recovering from mental illness. You can learn more about their programs and supports here.
(Written by: Matt Latour)
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