June 13th is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day, a day dedicated to addressing the unique mental health challenges that men face and encouraging open conversations about mental well-being.
Breaking the Silence
Despite comparable rates of mental illness between men and women, men are often less likely to recognize, discuss, and seek treatment for their mental health issues. This reluctance can have severe consequences. Notably, up to 10% of men experience paternal postpartum depression, and a staggering 80% of suicide deaths in Canada are men (Holtzman; Canadian Mental Health Association).
Recognizing the Signs
It’s crucial to understand that men may exhibit symptoms of depression differently than women. Men’s symptoms can include physical pain, anger, or irritability, which are often overlooked or misinterpreted (Mayo Clinic Staff). Early intervention is key to ensuring healthier adulthoods, making it vital to focus on the mental health of adolescent boys and young men (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health).
Encouraging Conversations
We urge everyone to become more aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and to have honest conversations with the men in their lives. Mental illness does not discriminate, and everyone should feel comfortable seeking help. Talking about mental health can be challenging, but it’s a necessary step towards breaking the stigma and preventing silent suffering.
Resources for Support
For those in need of support, there are numerous online and telephone resources available to men in Nova Scotia:
Online Mental Health Resources for Men:
- The Canadian Men’s Health Foundation: Provides information, tools, and motivation for men and their families to live healthier (Canadian Men’s Health Foundation).
- HeadsUpGuys: An online, anonymous resource specifically designed for men and their families to prevent the continued erosion of men’s mental health and deaths by suicide (HeadsUpGuys).
- Buddy Up: A men’s suicide prevention communications campaign (Buddy Up).
- Movember: Focuses on mental health through a male lens, emphasizing prevention, early intervention, and health promotion (Movember Foundation).
- Dudes Club: A participant-led community for men’s health and wellness (The DUDES Club).
- Mindshift CBT App by Anxiety Canada: Offers easy tools to help with anxiety (Anxiety Canada).
Phone Lines:
- Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call 988 for immediate, confidential, and judgment-free suicide prevention support 24/7
- Nova Scotia 811: Call 811 or visit 811.novascotia.ca for non-emergency health information from a registered nurse 24/7
- Nova Scotia 211: Call 211 or visit ns.211.ca for information about community and social services
- Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line: Call 1-800-429-8167 if you are experiencing an addiction or mental health crisis, or if you are concerned about someone else.
- Emergency: Call 911 for any immediate emergency.
On Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day, and every day, it’s important to remember that mental health issues are common and treatable. Encourage the men in your life to talk openly about their mental health and seek the help they need. Together, we can create a supportive community where everyone feels comfortable and safe discussing their mental well-being.
#MensMentalHealth #BreakTheStigma #CMHACEH #SupportAndTalk
Sources Cited
“988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.” Suicide Prevention Lifeline, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Anxiety Canada. “MindShift CBT.” Anxiety Canada, https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Buddy Up. “About Buddy Up.” Centre for Suicide Prevention, https://buddyup.ca/about-buddy-up/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Canadian Men’s Health Foundation. “About Us.” CMHF, https://menshealthfoundation.ca/about-us/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Canadian Mental Health Association. “Fast Facts about Mental Illness.” CMHA National, https://cmha.ca/fast-facts-about-mental-illness. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. “Mental Health in Children and Youth.” CAMH, https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/mental-health-in-children-and-youth. Accessed 11 June 2024.
HeadsUpGuys. “About HeadsUpGuys.” HeadsUpGuys, https://headsupguys.org/about/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Holtzman, Susan. “Postpartum Depression in Men.” Healthline, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/postpartum-depression-in-men. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Depression in Men: Understanding the Issues.” Mayo Clinic, 6 Dec. 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression/art-20047725. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Movember Foundation. “Our Cause.” Movember, https://ca.movember.com/about/foundation. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Nova Scotia 211. “What is 211?” Nova Scotia 211, https://ns.211.ca/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Nova Scotia 811. “811 Nova Scotia – Health Advice You Can Trust.” Government of Nova Scotia, https://811.novascotia.ca/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
The DUDES Club. “Our Mission.” Dudes Club, https://dudesclub.ca/our-mission/. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Statistics Canada. “Mental Health in Canada.” Government of Canada, https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/subjects-start/mental_health. Accessed 11 June 2024.