Why Men's Mental Health?
Globally, It’s estimated that a man dies by suicide every minute.
In Canada, over 3,000 men died by suicide in 2017, more than three times the number of women. And men who are part of certain populations can face especially stark mental health outcomes — racism towards Indigenous peoples and the dominance of colonialist systems in Canada have created conditions where the average suicide rate for Indigenous men is double that of the national average, with the suicide rate for Inuit men 11 times the national average. Gay men also report higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, and substance abuse in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts. What’s especially troubling is that males are the least likely gender to speak up about what’s going on and seek treatment for their mental health. If we want to change that, we need to understand what prevents them from talking.
This Jack Originals project is a multidisciplinary deep-dive into men's mental health, creating space for conversations. Our hope is that anyone who comes to this space will leave with more prepared to support the men in their lives, or are more open to asking for help.