"Too often, the message men and boys hear is to tough it out, to stay quiet and to deal with it alone, Minister of Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez said at the news conference in February. Health Canada says the strategy, set to be released later this year, aims to foster supportive and safe environments, challenge harmful stereotypes, reduce stigma, and encourage men of all ages to seek help when they need it."
"Part of it was, I like to take a 'Wait and hope it'll go away' approach, Bouchard told The Current's Matt Galloway. It wasn't until he discovered a second lump a month later that Bouchard went to see his doctor. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease."
"Recent data from Statistics Canada show men are experiencing distinct health challenges, including higher rates of suicide, substance abuse, and premature or preventable death. Researchers and health advocates say many men delay seeking care, even when symptoms appear – a trend the federal government says it hopes to reverse by developing a strategy focused on improving men's and boys' health."
The federal government is developing a national strategy to improve men's and boys' health, addressing distinct challenges including higher suicide rates, substance abuse, and preventable deaths. Many men delay seeking medical care even when symptoms appear, a pattern exemplified by radio host Kolter Bouchard, who waited weeks before addressing a neck lump that was later diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease. Health advocates attribute this delay to cultural messaging that encourages men to suppress concerns and handle problems independently. The strategy aims to foster supportive environments, challenge harmful stereotypes, reduce stigma, and encourage men of all ages to seek necessary healthcare. Statistics Canada data reveal significant health disparities affecting men, prompting government intervention to reverse avoidance patterns.
#mens-health-strategy #healthcare-avoidance #stigma-and-stereotypes #mental-health-and-suicide-prevention #government-health-policy
Read at www.cbc.ca
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