opinion: men's health impacts us all and our policies and services should reflect that
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in canada, men are twice as likely as women to die from preventable causes, amounting to more than 75,000 boys and men who die too young each year.
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when we talk about men’s health, we often frame it as a personal issue—confined to individual choices, behaviours, and impacts. but the truth is that gendered health outcomes don’t exist in isolation; rather, they are deeply interdependent. while women’s health has rightly gained long-overdue attention, men’s health continues to be overlooked—not only to the detriment of men themselves, but also to those closest to them.
this is especially evident in caregiving: a powerful but often invisible force that directly ties a man’s well-being to the emotional and physical tolls experienced by others. whether men are receiving or providing care, their health can both affect and be affected by those around them. understanding this interdependence is essential to building equitable and effective approaches to men’s health.
a new canadian report released by the movember institute of men’s health reveals the greater overall burden of disease men experience compared with women, from conditions that often lead to premature death. in canada, men are twice as likely as women to die from preventable causes, amounting to more than 75,000 boys and men who die too young each year. the disabilities that precede these deaths impact men’s partners, families, friends, colleagues, and communities.
the work of caregiving often falls heavily on women. when a male partner’s health declines, spouses—most often women—step in to support them through chronic illness, recovery, and/or palliative care. and while caregiving can feel rewarding, it also comes with personal costs. data indicates that 66 per cent of caregivers report a negative impact on their mental health; 50 per cent report harm to their physical health and finances; 68 per cent experience reduced energy levels; and 39 per cent report difficulty managing family responsibilities.
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the burden is heavier still for women, who tend to take on more time-consuming and emotionally intensive caregiving roles—researching treatment options, coordinating medical appointments, and shouldering the emotional weight of their partner’s poor health.
but the caregiving relationship is not one-directional, and the outdated view that men are only care recipients misses an important part of the picture.
men are also caregivers—often to aging parents, spouses, and/or children—and many men derive a deep sense of identity and purpose from this role. as canada’s population ages, the number of men serving as family caregivers is increasing. however, their ability to provide that care is directly tied to their own physical and mental health.
investing in men’s health, then, is not only about reducing the load that women caregivers carry, it is about enabling men to fully participate in family care and community life. a man in good health can be an active caregiver, a steady partner, and a source of support for others. this is especially important as data shows that men and women aged 75 to 84 years old are equally likely to serve as spousal caregivers. yet without the proper attention to men’s health, this caregiving capacity diminishes—leaving others to shoulder more, often with few resources and little support.
health equity is not a zero-sum game. prioritizing men’s health does not mean taking away from women’s health; rather, it complements and strengthens it. and if we truly care about building a more equitable, compassionate, and sustainable health system, then men’s health must be part of the conversation.
one of the most effective ways to signal this priority is for governments at both the federal and provincial levels to implement policies and commitments that will bolster how our health system engages, responds to, and retains men in care. the development and implementation of a national men’s health strategy would help align healthcare stakeholders across the country and ensure that men’s health is considered through an equity lens.
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when we view gender and health not as competing priorities but as connected systems, it becomes clear that investments in men’s health yield shared benefits – reducing caregiving work, strengthening families and communities, and fostering a society where everyone can give and receive care regardless of their gender.
men’s health impacts us all. it’s time our policies, services, and perspectives reflected that.
dr. john l. oliffe is a professor and tier 1 canada research chair in men’s health promotion at the university of british columbia and co-author of movember canada’s the real face of men’s health report.
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