UBC Men’s Health Research Program

Promoting Men’s Health Through Research and Engagement

We draw on masculinities and participatory action research methods to engage diverse groups of men in working together to address their unique social determinants of health. The findings from our work are tailored to directly inform practice, including developing equitable and gender-responsive health interventions that will advance the health of men and their communities in Canada and worldwide.  

What’s New

News:

PhD candidate, Christy Chan was awarded the 2026 CIHR Doctoral Research Award for her PhD project!

News:

Dr. John Oliffe has been awarded the 2026 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insights Grant! 

News:

Dr. Francine Darroch has been awarded the 2026 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insights Grant!

Promoting Men’s Health Through Research and Engagement

We draw on masculinities and participatory action research methods to engage diverse groups of men in working together to address their unique social determinants of health. The findings from our work are tailored to directly inform practice, including developing equitable and gender-responsive health interventions that will advance the health of men and their communities in Canada and worldwide.  

What’s New

News:

PhD candidate, Christy Chan was awarded the 2026 CIHR Doctoral Research Award for her PhD project!

News:

Dr. John Oliffe has been awarded the 2026 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insights Grant! 

News:

Dr. Francine Darroch has been awarded the 2026 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insights Grant!

Featured Projects

The Real Face of Men's Health: 2025 Canadian Report

The report, launched ruing the Men’s Health Week 2025, was undertaken by Movember, the global leading men’s health charity, as too many men are living with poor health or are dying young from preventable conditions. Dr. John Oliffe co-authored the report with Niigaan Sinclair to advocate for the creation of a National Men’s Health Strategy and urge the Government of Canada to commit to its development.

Read the Report

Photo Exhibition: Men's Mental Health Resiliencies

This international photograph exhibition features 9 photovoice studies addressing men’s mental health. The 90 photographs and accompanying captions were submitted by diverse research participants, including men with different ethnocultural backgrounds and sexual orientations. The photographs depict men’s experiences with cancer survivorship, concussion recovery, suicidality, depression and anxiety, substance use, intimate partnerships and peer connections. Together, these photographs visualize the power of men’s mental health resiliencies.

Visit the 3D Exhibition

In Good Company Podcast

Funded by the New Frontiers in Research Fund, this photovoice project explored the experiences and perspectives of Canadian-based men in the ways in which they connected with and supported their male peers. Sixty-five men across Canada were interviewed on Zoom to share their experiences and strategies in building social connections and seeking mutual help. The study later became the basis for the In good company website and podcast series with the aim to spread the word about why it’s important for men to connect with their peers and how they could connect.

Listen to the Podcast

Featured Projects

The Real Face of Men's Health: 2025 Canadian Report

The report, launched ruing the Men’s Health Week 2025, was undertaken by Movember, the global leading men’s health charity, as too many men are living with poor health or are dying young from preventable conditions. Dr. John Oliffe co-authored the report with Niigaan Sinclair to advocate for the creation of a National Men’s Health Strategy and urge the Government of Canada to commit to its development.

Download the Report

Photo Exhibition: Men's Mental Health Resiliencies

This international photograph exhibition features 9 photovoice studies addressing men’s mental health. The 90 photographs and accompanying captions were submitted by diverse research participants, including men with different ethnocultural backgrounds and sexual orientations. The photographs depict men’s experiences with cancer survivorship, concussion recovery, suicidality, depression and anxiety, substance use, intimate partnerships and peer connections. Together, these photographs visualize the power of men’s mental health resiliencies.

Enter the 3D Gallery

In Good Company Podcast

Funded by the New Frontiers in Research Fund, this photovoice project explored the experiences and perspectives of Canadian-based men in the ways in which they connected with and supported their male peers. Sixty-five men across Canada were interviewed on Zoom to share their experiences and strategies in building social connections and seeking mutual help. The study later became the basis for the In good company website and podcast series with the aim to spread the word about why it’s important for men to connect with their peers and how they could connect.

Listen to the Podcast

Key Research Areas

Key Research Areas

Learn how we are engaging the structural determinants of health and developing culturally safe programs to address mental health inequities impacting diverse groups of men.

Explore how we are building gender-responsive, community-based and e-health programs for men, and equipping practitioners with the knowledge and skills to respond to men’s health needs.

Discover our empirical research and tailored interventions in supporting men to build healthy intimate partner relationships and stay socially connected for mental health promotion.

Book Dr. John Oliffe

Dr. John Oliffe is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Men’s Health Promotion at the School of Nursing, University of British Columbia. Founder and lead investigator of UBC’s Men’s Health Research program, his work focuses on masculinities as it influences men’s health behaviours and illness management, and its impact on partners, families and overall life quality. Findings drawn from his research offer guidance to clinicians and researchers to advance men’s health in the areas of mental health promotion and suicide prevention.

Book Dr. Oliffe as a Speaker

Book Dr. John Oliffe

Dr. John Oliffe is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Men’s Health Promotion at the School of Nursing, University of British Columbia. Founder and lead investigator of UBC’s Men’s Health Research program, his work focuses on masculinities as it influences men’s health behaviours and illness management, and its impact on partners, families and overall life quality. Findings drawn from his research offer guidance to clinicians and researchers to advance men’s health in the areas of mental health promotion and suicide prevention.

Book Dr. Oliffe as a Speaker