Pain Doesn't Shout — It Whispers. It's Time to Listen.
Canada's Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, marked the start of National Pain Awareness Week on November 2 with one invitation: pause, listen, take chronic pain seriously.
One in five Canadians lives with chronic pain — one of the country's most significant and often misunderstood health challenges. This year's theme, "Unsilence Pain," calls for listening to people who live with it and helping them reach support.
Pain is more than a symptom: for millions it affects physical and mental health, relationships, work and quality of life, and unmanaged pain can lead to further health problems.
Pain Hits Everyone Differently
Sex and gender shape how pain is experienced and how care is reached. Women are more likely to live with chronic pain and face barriers to diagnosis and treatment, including for endometriosis and pelvic pain. Men face barriers to seeking help — especially in physically demanding jobs where injuries can turn chronic — and are disproportionately affected by opioid-related harms.
What Ottawa Is Doing
Ottawa is advancing evidence-informed pain prevention, management and care: investing in national pain management standards for children, youth and adults, and updating guidance on responsible opioid use, building on the Canadian Pain Task Force's recommendations.
Canadians are encouraged to explore Pain Canada's resources; Health Canada offers free virtual resources for chronic pain management.
The Twikup Take
Chronic pain is easy to miss — it is often invisible. A week of listening will not fix treatment gaps, but being believed is where care starts, and that costs nothing.
Health note: Pain varies widely, and this article is general information, not medical advice. If pain is new, worsening or disrupting daily life, talk to a health professional about options that fit.
Image: AI-generated illustration.