Breaking the Silence: Supporting Men’s Mental Health in Canada
Reports and research all around the world continue to reveal that men’s mental health is an ongoing societal issue. Unfortunately, many men still choose to suffer in silence rather than reach out and seek help.
According to the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, approximately one million men in Canada suffer from major depression each year. So, what can you do to support men’s mental health in Canada? From volunteering to fundraising, we explore the best ways to get involved and make a difference.
Why should we support men’s mental health in Canada?
Despite increased awareness around mental health, many men continue to face challenges when it comes to seeking help. In Canada, men disproportionately experience poor mental health outcomes compared to women. But why is this the case?
Some of the reasons men are less likely to seek help can include:
- Stigma: Discouraged from seeking help for fear of stereotyping and discrimination.
- Toxic masculinity: Concerned about expressing emotions and not adhering to the traditional views of how men should be.
- Denial: Not willing to identify the symptoms they’re experiencing and take them seriously.
- Loneliness: Not having access to a supportive network in which they can confide.
- Lack of knowledge: Don’t fully understand the seriousness of mental health issues or how to reach out for support.
What are the main signs of poor mental health in men?
Whether it’s a member of your family, friend, loved one, or colleague, there are some common indicators of depression and/or poor mental health. While everyone is different and there is a wide variety of symptoms, some signs to look for include:
- Irritable mood or anger
- Withdrawn and wanting to be alone
- Less interest in things
- Sleep problems
- Weight change or loss of appetite
- Lack of energy or fatigue
- Mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating and memory loss
- Guilt and feelings of worthlessness
- Physical pain, such as headaches and stomach problems
- Increased use of alcohol and drugs or gambling.
Poor mental health can affect anyone regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender, so it’s important to monitor symptoms when they appear and offer support before they worsen. Early signs of mental health problems can even sometimes be seen in childhood.
The Government of Canada is an excellent resource for mental health services.
How to support men’s mental health
A reliable support system is crucial for everyone, especially during difficult periods. However, not everyone may have a reliable support network to turn to.
Fortunately, there are various ways you can help people in need and tackle men’s mental health in Canada.
Donate to men’s mental health charities
For those who want to make a difference but are short on time, donating to a charity is a great way of contributing to the fight against mental health issues.
Whether you wish to support a charity on a local, national, or international scale, there are plenty of excellent charities in Canada that you can help.
Here are some of the country’s leading men’s mental health charities:
- Buddy Up
- Canadian Centre for Men and Families
- Canadian Men’s Health Foundation
- Dudes Club
- HeadsUpGuys
- Hi Dad Foundation
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way of supporting men with poor mental health, especially if you’ve personally struggled in the past and can use your first-hand experience to help them on their road to recovery.
Generously donating your energy and time means you can make a genuine difference to Canadian men and the charitable organisations that support them.
Voluntary roles with mental health organisations could include:
- Providing a listening ear and emotional support.
- Acting as a role model or mentor.
- Attending or leading support groups and peer discussions.
- Helping to organise workshops, events, and campaigns.
- Spreading awareness online and by word of mouth.
- Organising fundraising events.
- Engaging with donors.
- Helping to create educational content on men’s mental health.
Here are some of the organisations in Canada that welcome volunteers:
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Canadian Centre for Men and Families
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- HeadsUpGuys
- Health Initiative for Men
Volunteering isn’t just a good way of instilling confidence and improving wellbeing for those in need, it also rewards you with a sense of purpose and achievement.
Reach out for a chat
It’s important to pay attention to those around you to see if there is a noticeable change in their behaviour that’s linked to poor mental health. If you suspect that someone is struggling, have a chat with them and check everything is ok.
Sometimes simply initiating a conversation is all that’s required to help someone open up and confide in you. Men can find tackling their mental health a very isolating and alienating experience, so a supportive chat could have a massive impact.
Make sure you continue to check in on them every so often.Start a fundraiser
An increasingly popular way of supporting worthy causes is to start an online fundraiser. Mental health fundraising empowers people to come together and financially support a charity, campaign, or cause they care about. By using an online platform, you can use the internet and social media to reach a massive pool of potential donors.
All you need to do to get started is to follow these steps:
- Pick a cause associated with men’s mental health in Canada.
- Start your mental health fundraising journey and tell your story. The right crowdfunding platform should champion trust and safety, offer advanced tools, and share proven fundraising tips and ideas.
- Spread the word and share your fundraiser via social media, emails, at work/school, and with family and friends. Try to target as many different networks as possible.
- Start accepting donations and monitor how your fundraiser is performing.
- Update everyone with regular updates and reminders to donate.
- Send donations directly to your beneficiary.
We also recommend sending thank you messages to all of your donors. Not only does this make them feel appreciated, but it can also help you in the long run if you choose to do an annual fundraiser to support men’s mental health.
Men’s mental health fundraising using GoFundMe
Creating a fundraiser can be slightly daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. With GoFundMe, you can start making a difference in the lives of Canadian men living with poor mental health in just a few clicks.
Our easy-to-use online platform simplifies the whole fundraising process and ensures you can raise as many vital funds as possible.
All of the donations you receive will go straight to those who need it most, so you can make a valuable contribution to improving men’s mental health in Canada and around the rest of the world.
Join thousands of Canadians by using the world’s #1 crowdfunding platform today.