Hello all, and welcome June! Although we haven’t yet reached the summer solstice, we can all agree that June usually marks the beginning of summer: end of school, the start of summer vacations and warm, sunny days… What an exciting time! Because June is Men’s Health Month, and when we celebrate Father’s Day, it’s also a great time to reflect on the health and well-being of the men in our lives—fathers, grandfathers, spouses, brothers and friends.
Why men don’t always open up
Many men are raised to be strong, stoic and self-reliant. While these values can serve them well in some parts of life, they do not when it comes to health. It’s not uncommon for men to downplay symptoms, brush off concerns or avoid talking about emotional struggles. Just reading this description, I’m guessing many men come to your mind. This reluctance to speak up—often rooted in outdated ideas of masculinity—can delay diagnosis and treatment, sometimes with serious consequences.
Nobody can pinpoint exactly why a man in your life may keep his struggles to himself. Whether it’s pain, fatigue, low mood or memory lapses, not talking about it doesn’t make it go away. In fact, the sooner a man opens up, the more likely it is that even simple interventions will make a difference.
What to watch for in older men
On average, Canadian men die four years earlier than women. They’re also less likely to seek help for mental health concerns or to visit a doctor regularly. As friends, family members, and members of the community, we can support the men in our lives by checking in regularly and paying attention to some changes related to gender and aging.
- Depression and anxiety, for example, are often underdiagnosed in older men, especially when the symptoms appear as irritability, fatigue or social withdrawal.
- Hearing loss is another issue that’s frequently overlooked, even though it can contribute to isolation and cognitive decline.
- And while prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men, affecting 1 in 8 during their lifetime, many hesitate to speak up about their symptoms due to embarrassment.
How to help the men in your life
Since most symptoms of the conditions mentioned above are invisible and men will often hide them, the best thing we can do for the men in our lives is to stay alert to any significant changes. Maybe their clothes suddenly seem too big, or they’ve stopped showing up at gatherings. Perhaps the man once known as the life of the party has grown unusually quiet. This could indicate lots of things, including hearing loss or depression.
As observers, we’re often the first to notice when small shifts start to affect someone’s daily life. And that’s how we should frame it. No one wants to feel exposed or labelled as vulnerable, but when a loved one gently points out a change they’ve noticed, it can be easier to accept. In the end, your efforts may not lead to an immediate diagnosis or a transformation, but they can plant a seed.
Before ending this blog, I would like to let you know about our upcoming Wellness Café on Advance Care planning on June 11. This free conference is available in English, both in-person and online. Don’t miss this chance to hear about the existing tools to plan ahead, as well as their scope and limitations.
I wish you all a happy start to summer!
Anaïs