Nearly 6,000 Canadians Spoke — and Mental Health Came First
Health Canada has released the What We Heard Report from its national conversation on men and boys' health. It sums up what Canadians shared this past winter and spring: the challenges affecting the health and well-being of men and boys, the factors behind them, and the actions needed to help them thrive.
Health Minister Marjorie Michel released the report on November 2, 2026. The conversation launched on February 23, 2026 and ran for three months, drawing nearly 6,000 people through an online questionnaire, written submissions, roundtables and discussions with stakeholders, experts, and provincial, territorial, Indigenous and international partners.
Three themes came through strongest: mental health, social connection, and reducing the barriers that stop men and boys from seeking help. Participants also pointed to mentorship, positive role models, healthy relationships and community-based supports as keys to helping men and boys feel connected and seek support when they need it.
The findings stress there is no single story. Men and boys have diverse experiences and needs, shaped by age, income, culture, where they live and their life experiences. As Michel put it, too many men and boys are struggling, often without the support they need.
The Twikup Take
This is Ottawa listening before it legislates. The findings will now feed Canada's first Federal Men and Boys' Health and Well-being Strategy, due in early 2027, with Movember Canada working as an independent convening partner to bring in experts and stakeholders. The real test is whether the strategy turns listening into help that arrives before a crisis.
Image: AI-generated illustration.