Senate Members Recommend Strategies to Reduce Canada’s Suicide Rates, Especially Among Men and Boys

Suicide in Canada is a persistent problem, especially for men and boys. Although the government developed a suicide prevention framework more than a decade ago, instances of people taking their own lives have unfortunately remained largely unchanged since its introduction. Many people working in mental health care and support roles who interact with male patients likely already know that, but now, this issue has gotten much-needed broader attention.

The Report

Motivated by the revelation that suicide rates in Canada have not decreased, members of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology published a report titled “Doing What Works: Rethinking the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention.” Before publishing it, Committee members heard perspectives from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, medical experts and clinicians, and those with lived experience of suicide.

Those insights shaped numerous recommendations to improve the current framework. Additionally, a later part of the report summarized the testimonies shared with Committee members. That second section included a statistic that men account for more than 75% of suicides in Canada.

Dr. Rob Whitley — an associate professor of psychiatry at McGill University — included it in his written evidence. He also highlighted how any effective suicide prevention strategies must focus on high-risk males, such as military veterans, Aboriginal men and individuals with mental illness.

What Were the Suggested Improvements?

Committee members included 11 ways to improve the Canadian government’s suicide prevention framework. However, here, we’ll focus on five of those most relevant to men and boys throughout the country.

1. Secure Government Commitment

One recommendation was that the government commit to updating the current Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention to increase its effectiveness. Additionally, those involved should prioritize:

Identifying and promoting evidence-based public health and clinical interventions proven to have meaningful and measurable impacts on suicide prevention in Canada.
Transitioning away from interventions or programs lacking sufficient evidence.
Replacing specific phrases in the framework with more appropriate language.
Providing data-backed programming to measure suicide prevention impacts.

2. Establish New Priorities

Another of the report’s recommendations requests that once government authorities commit to updating the framework, they focus on fresh emphases. More specifically, they should:

Find and scale demonstrably effective local public health and clinical interventions.
Target overrepresented populations — including men and boys — in Canada’s suicide rates.
Fund research related to promising suicide prevention strategies.

3. Address Suicide Prevention Strategies in Men and Boys

In 2022, the Mental Health Commission of Canada released an evidence brief about the prevalence of men and boys within the country taking their own lives. One point brought up in it that drives home the still-present point is suicide is Canada’s second-leading cause of death among males aged 15-39, with only accidental deaths happening more frequently.

Notably, the content also included the same statistic cited by Dr. Rob Whitley when bringing information and perspectives to the Committee for this report. However, the brief expanded the context, specifying that the country has an estimated 4,000 deaths by suicide annually, and 75% of those are men or boys.

Committee members suggest that any updated Framework released by the Canadian government include several strategies to reduce this overrepresentation. More specifically, it should:

Invest in treatment innovations to help men and boys experiencing mental health difficulties.
Recognize and target the potential need for gender-specific therapeutic interventions.
Acknowledge the stigma men and boys may face while discussing mental health and suicide or seeking care.

Although not explicitly mentioned in the report, another strategy could be to teach men and boys mental health strategies they can do anywhere to supplement professional care. For example, meditation can be excellent for relieving depression and its associated symptoms, such as disturbed sleep. Estimates show up to 25% of the world’s population experiences insomnia and deficient sleep. However, that figure is even higher among people with depression and anxiety.

A great thing about meditation is individuals can learn to do it anywhere. Then, it’s easier to get into a healthy routine, whether doing a breathing exercise to become calm and centered after an upsetting conversation or going through a gratitude practice at bedtime.

4. Work Together on Data Collection and Analysis

Trustworthy data can inform new or improved suicide prevention interventions and illuminate valuable trends. For example, Canadian statistics indicate approximately three times as many men than women kill themselves. Additionally, such findings can become even more useful when relevant bodies share materials and trends. That’s why another of the report’s recommendations relates to improving methods of gathering and collecting data.

More specifically, efforts should include:

Creating a national database of suicides and associated emergency room visits or hospitalizations.
Standardizing the information in coroners’ reports.
Performing disaggregated analyses with adequate demographic and geographic data.
Working with provincial and territorial authorities to report suicides and attempts to a designated body.

5. Acknowledge and Mitigate Access-Related Challenges

Although the data backs up how men and boys in Canada are at increased suicide risk, additional challenges can arise for anyone due to individualized circumstances. An estimated 800,000 individuals die by suicide annually. However, even when people want to seek help for their suicidal thoughts or actions, they often face barriers.

For example, the Committee’s report recognized the difficulties experienced by numerous groups — including people with disabilities, refugees and immigrants, individuals living in rural areas, and residents who speak English or French as a second language — when attempting to access mental health care.

It’s easy to imagine the discouragement someone could feel if they use a wheelchair and find the only mental health provider in their area has an upstairs office in a building with no elevator. Similarly, an immigrant who is feeling suicidal due to the challenges of adjusting to life in a new country may feel wholly cut off from help if they cannot find resources in their native language and are not yet fluent in English or French.

These scenarios are realities for many marginalized populations within and outside of Canada. They could mean men and boys from particular groups could have difficulties getting the care they need. In the worst cases, some could feel especially isolated and eventually conclude mental health care is not for them and not worth the effort to get.

The associated suggestions for improvement consist of providing resources and programming to minimize these challenges while ensuring the updated Framework acknowledges the significant mental health stigma and addresses it by providing support throughout all Canadian communities.

Where to Find Help

If the themes covered here are personally resonant or you’d like to help someone you know find mental health support, please reach out to the Canadian Centre for Men and Families. This organization advocates for men before, during and after crises. It operates based on the belief that everyone benefits when males have the support to live their best lives. There is a peer support group, counselling and therapy services, and a specific program for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence.

There are also many local branches of the Canadian Mental Health Association working throughout Canada to deliver mental health support and suicide prevention programs to community members. After exploring the above resources, you can see what is available in your province by doing a quick online search.

Collaborating to Reduce Suicide Rates and Increase Support

Decreasing suicide rates in the country will take time, but the Committee’s suggested Framework updates are an excellent start. All decisions made moving forward must be data-backed, thoughtful and compassionate regarding the intricacies, complications and individual life experiences that cause someone to consider taking their own life. Those involved must work together toward common goals and adopt person-centric approaches to understanding the primary issues, along with which factors can lead to suicide and other mental health challenges.

Whether someone works as a schoolteacher, mental health professional or emergency room nurse, these jobs and other people-facing ones may involve engaging with men and boys about mental health. The Committee’s recommendations are particularly relevant to them and anyone else in Canada who is deeply motivated to improve mental health care access for all.

Jack Shaw is the senior editor of the men’s lifestyle magazine Modded and an advocate for men’s mental health. He has written extensively on the issues faced by single parents and those struggling with trauma, mental health disorders, and more. His tips, breakdowns and personal experiences have been published in TinyBuddha, Calmerry, The Company of Dads and more.