Men’s mental health month: when it happens and why it matters

Every week in Canada, roughly 63 men die by suicide. Most of them never asked for help. Not because help was not available. But because somewhere along the way, they learned that asking for it was not something men do.

And for many, it doesn’t begin with a crisis. It begins much quieter than that.

Will I keep my job next year? Will this new Iran-US war drive up my mortgage or rent, my gas prices? Will my kids turn out okay? You know that feeling where something feels wrong, but you cannot name it? Not sick exactly. Not sad exactly. Just heavy.

Your shoulders are tense before you even get out of bed. Your mind is already bracing for everything that could go sideways. You are tired, but not the kind of tired that sleep fixes. Most men recognize that feeling. Very few ever talk about it.

Men's mental health is a serious issue in Canada and around the world. A 2025 survey by the Canadian Men's Health Foundation found that:

• 64 per cent of men reported moderate to high stress
• 23 per cent were at risk of moderate to severe depression
• 50 per cent were at risk of social isolation
• 67 per cent had never asked for professional mental health help

These numbers show that many men are struggling in silence, even when they look fine on the outside.

So, what can we do about it? A good place to start is understanding when men's mental health month happens, why it matters, and how you and organizations around the world can work to change these things.

When is men's mental health month?

There are actually two key times a year when men's mental health takes centre stage.

In Canada and internationally, November is recognized as Men's Health Awareness Month. It is closely tied to the Movember movement, which began as a campaign to raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancer but has grown into a global conversation about men's mental health and suicide prevention. The Movember Foundation has set a goal to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 per cent by 2030.

In the United States, June is recognized as Men's Mental Health Month. Both observances share the same goal: to break the silence, challenge stigma, and remind men that asking for help is not a weakness.

In Canada, there is also a growing push for dedicated Men's Mental Health Awareness Week legislation, which shows how seriously policymakers are starting to take this issue.

Common signs that a man is struggling

Mental health struggles in men often look different than they do in women. Rather than expressing sadness openly, men are more likely to show symptoms through behaviour: anger, irritability, pulling away from loved ones, working too much, drinking too much, or simply going quiet. Here are some signs to watch for in the men around you:

• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Increased use of alcohol or substances
• Outbursts of anger or irritability
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Losing interest in things they used to enjoy
• Talking about feeling trapped or like a burden

These signs do not mean a man is weak. They mean he is human, and he may need support. According to Statistics Canada's research on men's mental health, men who have someone they can count on are significantly more likely to rate their mental health as excellent or very good, which shows just how much connection matters.

Why men's mental health month is often overlooked

Showing emotion has long been framed as a sign of weakness among men. Asking for help? Even worse. Boys grow up learning to push feelings down. And for many men, that habit stays with them for life.

The result is devastating. Men are dying in large numbers, all around us, often completely alone.

Part of the problem is that men's mental health month does not always get the same attention as other awareness months. Mental health conversations have grown a lot in recent years, but men are still less likely to be part of them.

A 2025 systematic review published by the National Institutes of Health found that many men avoid seeking professional mental health services due to feelings of embarrassment or fear of being seen as weak. This is deeply tied to traditional masculine norms.

This gap is more than just a cultural issue: It should be treated as a public health crisis.

The global picture: men's mental health knows no borders

The struggle men face with mental health is not limited to Canada or the United States. It shows up in communities across the world, including in places where conflict, poverty and displacement add enormous pressure to daily life.

Consider Ahmad (name changed to protect his privacy), a 22-year-old farmer living in one of the most remote villages in Badghis Province, Afghanistan. After his father passed away, Ahmad became the sole provider for his family on an extremely limited income, all while living under the threat of ongoing conflict. The weight of that responsibility took a serious toll on his mental health.

"I didn't want to spend time with my family," Ahmad shared. "I would beat my children and wife sometimes, even up to five times a day. Sometimes, I would order my children to leave the room."

Ahmad's uncle recognized that something was wrong and took him to the city for treatment. But the cost of travel and ongoing counselling was too much for the family to sustain. The few sessions they could afford were not enough to make a lasting difference.

Ahmad's story shows just how many barriers men face when it comes to getting help: distance, cost, stigma, and simply not knowing where to turn.

Stories like Ahmad's are why psychosocial support is so urgently needed in crisis settings around the world.

What World Vision Canada is doing about Mental Health

World Vision Canada works in some of the world's most vulnerable communities, and mental health is a core part of that work.

In Moldova, World Vision joined 15 NGOs to amplify mental health awareness at a major event in Chisinau. Adela Softic, World Vision's multi-project manager in Moldova, used the event to describe the mental health and psychosocial services World Vision offers in the country. Events like this one are critical for reaching communities where mental health resources are limited, and stigma is high.

World Vision also addresses men's mental health by tackling the root causes of harmful behaviour and promoting what is sometimes called positive masculinity. One of the key tools in this work is the MenCare approach, a program that encourages men to redefine traditional roles, engage more meaningfully with their families and build healthier habits in how they relate to others.

As a partner in the global MenCare campaign, coordinated by Equimundo, World Vision has adapted this approach across many different countries' contexts. The MenCare Facilitators' Training Manual gives facilitators practical tools to run group-based sessions with men and boys. The results, documented in places like Congo and Bangladesh, show that when men are given space to reflect and grow, entire families benefit..

World Vision's work also contributes to the broader conversation about engaging men and boys for gender equality, recognizing that men's mental health and gender equality are deeply connected.

How to support men's mental health this month (and every month)

Whether it is November or June, Men's mental health month is not just about awareness. It is about action. There are real things you can do to make a difference.

1. Start a real conversation. You do not need to have all the answers. Just asking, "How are you actually doing?" can open a door. Keep it low-pressure and genuinely listen without trying to fix everything. The Canadian Mental Health Association offers practical guides on how to have these conversations well.

2. Challenge the "man up" message. When you hear someone tell a boy or man to stop being emotional, push back gently. Language shapes culture. The more we normalize men expressing how they feel, the safer it becomes for them to do so. Research published by the NIH on masculinity norms and mental health confirms that deeply ingrained gender expectations are one of the biggest barriers to men getting help.

3. Know the resources. In Canada, men can reach out through the Canadian Men's Health Foundation, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and crisis lines available 24/7. Encouraging a man to seek professional help is not overstepping: It could save his life.

4. Model healthy behaviour. Whether you are a parent, educator, coach or colleague, the men and boys around you are watching. When you talk openly about your own stress, set limits and ask for help, you give them permission to do the same.

5. Promote regular exercise. even simple daily walking, because physical activity is linked to better mood and overall mental well-being. Encourage mindfulness, breathing exercises, meditation and other relaxation practices to help men managing anxiety stress and avoid rumination.

6. Improve sleep habits. Consistent sleep routines and enough rest support emotional regulation, stress management and mental resilience.

7. Support organizations doing the work. World Vision's programs, like the MenCare approach, are making a real difference for men and families in some of the world's hardest-to-reach communities. Supporting their work through donations or advocacy helps extend that reach further.

According to Public Health Agency of Canada data, there were 4,394 suicide deaths in Canada in 2024, with men making up the vast majority. Those are fathers, brothers, sons and friends.

The data is clear. The stories are clear. Whether it is Ahmad in Afghanistan, or a man in your own neighbourhood who has not been himself lately, the need is real and it is urgent.

This month, and every month, let us commit to creating spaces where men feel safe to speak up. Let us challenge the messages that tell them to stay silent. And let us support the programs and people who are already working hard to change things on the ground.

Because no man should have to carry this alone.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out. In Canada, you can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24/7 in English and French. This number is also available in the United States.