Mental Health Monday: April 5, 2021

April 5, 2021 12:10 pm Published by Blackburn Media

A growing body of research indicates that a significant number of men and boys are facing substantial psycho-social difficulties, which manifest in a number of worrying statistics involving mental health, addiction and suicide. To start, males account for more than 75 per cent of suicides in Canada. That’s an average of 50 men per week dying by suicide.

Similarly, surveys indicate that Canadian men are around three times more likely to experience addiction and substance abuse compared to Canadian women. This includes alcohol, cannabis, and opioid abuse.

Statistics Canada, for example, notes that one in four boys do not graduate from high school on time, a rate significantly higher than girls.

Worryingly, evidence suggests that men also under-utilize mental health services, with statistics indicating that women are almost three times more likely to seek help through these services.

The reasons are varied, but some argue that these services are offered in ways that are typically unappealing to men. Indeed, there are many different modalities of healing, and studies indicate that men tend to prefer more informal action-based or group-based mental health services to formal one-on-one talk therapy. However, these types of informal services are not always available, particularly in smaller communities. A lack of choice or access to mental health services can deter men from reaching out and seeking help, leaving them struggling in silence and alone.

Clearly, all is not well with the mental health of a substantial portion of the Canadian male population, but this problem is typically overlooked by legislators and policymakers. Given the gravity of the situation, there’s clearly an urgent need to create an analogous parliamentary inquiry here in Canada, with a free and frank discussion on the status of men’s mental health and well-being in our society. This could include a critical examination of policies and programs in education, employment and health care that may be contributing to mental health difficulties.

https://www.cbc.ca/…/opinion-men-mental-health-1.5871935

#mentalhealthmoment #mensmentalhealth #menmatter