Back in session: the case for a men’s health strategy
Parliament is back in session. Agendas are being set, priorities decided, and budgets mapped out. If men’s health isn’t on the table, Canadians will keep paying the price — in lives lost, families impacted, and billions drained from our health system. Movember is here to help the Government of Canada change that.
Most know Movember as the month-long moustache growing men’s health cause. But what many don’t realize is this: year-round, our mission is to make clear how better men’s health benefits us all.
In June this year, that work included launching the Real Face of Men’s Health report. It revealed the true cost of poor men’s health; too many men die too soon, families are impacted and healthcare systems are increasingly stretched thin. Now, as parliament gets back in session, we’re calling for the Government of Canada to put the report on the agenda. So we can finally take steps to enacting our country’s first-ever men’s health strategy.
The findings are stark
Two in five Canadian men die before the age of 75, largely from preventable causes. In 2023 alone, 75,000 men in Canada died prematurely. Suicide remains the 4th leading cause of death for men overall; and the 2nd for those aged 15–44, with men accounting for three-quarters of all suicides. Indigenous men and those from vulnerable communities face even worse outcomes.
The economic impact is staggering
Poor men’s health costs Canada $12.4 billion in a single year. That’s approximately how much it takes to run 12 hospitals. And that figure doesn’t capture the full picture of lost productivity and active participants in the workforce. Beyond dollars, the impact is carried by families and caregivers: 66% report worse mental health and 50% worse financial outcomes because of caregiving responsibilities.
The problem is rooted in the system
Harmful norms, stigma, and gender bias create a culture of silence that prevents men from seeking care. 65% of men wait at least six days before seeking help for symptoms, and nearly one in ten delay care for more than two years. Even when men do engage, only 48% say they feel listened to in their first healthcare interaction — what can make the difference between a routine check-up and a critical condition.
What the numbers really tell us
Behind every statistic are families, communities, and futures. Addressing men’s health will save lives, ease pressure on hospitals, and strengthen Canada’s workforce. Real change means system-level reform: recognizing diverse needs and building infrastructure that reaches men, responds to their realities, and keeps them in care — starting with a National Men’s Health Strategy.
Change isn't built in a day
We didn’t publish this report to sit on a shelf. We launched it now, at a time when Canada has a new federal mandate and this is a critical window to shape what comes next.
Over the summer, we launched the report with partners at University of British Columbia, engaging policymakers across the country, and building momentum toward a fall of advocacy and action.
Parliament must act now, committing to a strategy that puts prevention first, equips health systems to meet men where they are, and delivers lasting impact for families, caregivers, and communities.
Canada has an opportunity to lead. With Parliament back in session, the question is whether we’re ready to seize it. We’ve done the homework. Now it’s time for our leaders to do theirs.