More than twenty years of campaigning in men’s health has taught us that men, and those around them, care deeply about men’s health, and everyone has a story to tell.
We have many inspiring stories of when men are empowered and supported to be well and healthy—socially, culturally, physically and mentally. But we also have stories of men not knowing their risks and not feeling equipped to act—accounts of men feeling disempowered, excluded, or uncertain about when and how to speak to a healthcare professional, or having a poor experience when they do reach out for help. Every day, we hear not only from men themselves but also from their partners, families, and friends.
These stories are not ones of men neglecting their health but of the challenges that men experience, and how these play out when it comes to seeking and receiving help. We need to sharpen our focus on men, especially groups of men who experience health inequities.
This report purposefully includes the stories of men and their partners, families, and friends to illustrate and represent men’s health as a community-wide endeavor with significant societal benefits.
It outlines the state of men’s health in Canada, addressing contemporary and long-standing challenges and inequities. It does this ahead of highlighting the unexpected faces of men’s health, focusing on caregivers for men who experience ill health. Canadian and international examples of what works in men’s health are also detailed. The report then calls for a Canadian National Men’s Health Strategy and outlines three policy asks with the goal of working with the Canadian government to change the face of men’s health.