Headlines News
New mental health research released by Movember

September 9, 2019, Toronto – One in four Canadian men (28 per cent) fear their job could be at risk if they discussed their mental health at work, finds new research by Movember.

Figures released by Movember have revealed how despite growing awareness of the male mental health crisis, a third of men said they would be reluctant to open up about their problems in case it had a negative impact on their career.

The study, conducted by Ipsos MORI, surveyed 1000 Canadian men between ages 18 and 75. It found that 42 per cent of men would be worried about colleagues making negative comments behind their backs if they discussed mental health issues at work.

A further 33 per cent of men think they could be held back from promotion at work if they mentioned a problem that they were finding it difficult to cope with.

The majority of Canadian men are aware of the availability of mental health days in their workplace, with 54 per cent of employed men saying they would be able to take time off work, if they were struggling with their mental health or other personal issues. However, this research shows that stigma surrounding mental health is still preventing men from talking about their problems and seeking help when they need it.

“Although we’ve made great progress in starting to talk openly about how we are feeling, there are many men worried that a personal mental health challenge might be revealed, especially in the workplace,” says Brendan Maher, Movember’s Global Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Director in a news release.

Three out of four suicides are men and it remains the biggest cause of death for men under the age of 44. Risk factors that increase a man’s vulnerability to poor mental health and suicide include relationship breakdown, acute stress, persistent low mood and social isolation.

To coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Movember ‘s Man of More Words campaign is focused on encouraging men to open when they are going through a tough time. Through a series of videos and social media posts, the charity is sharing the stories of men who have benefited from speaking up.