Community-based Resources
The following community-based resources highlight the availability of community support for men seeking social connections and peer support. Operating across different contexts of men’s daily lives, these community-based resources are tailored to improve men’s mental health, keep them connected to family, friends and community and build their resilience in the long term.
Men’s Shed Canada
Founded in Australia in the 1990s, the Canadian Men’s Sheds movement has grown since the 2010s. Canada currently has 4 provincial Shed associations and over 130 Sheds operating across ten provinces. Often teaming up with local organizations to do special projects that support their communities. Men’s Sheds Canada offers a welcoming environment where men, across diverse ages, cultures and socioeconomic status, engage shared experiences, celebrate accomplishments and build community.
Buddy Up
Developed by the Centre for Suicide Prevention and incorporated into the Canadian Mental Health Association (Alberta Division), Buddy Up is a peer-based male suicide prevention campaign. Co-designed with men, the campaign encourages Buddy Up participants to complete activities that promote connection and wellbeing, learn about male suicide risk and engage authentic conversations with their buddies to support them. The Buddy Up campaign is year-round but focuses its activities in June with an emphasis on promoting men’s mental health and suicide prevention in the workplace.
Hockey Fans in Training (HFiT)
Launched in 2014 with funding from Movember, HFiT was established as a Canadian solution to address the global increase in obesity and chronic diseases. Using a 12-week lifestyle program, HFiT engages male hockey fans by providing them with the tools and resources to build a healthier lifestyle through healthy eating, physical activity, nature, in order to achieve a healthy weight and maintain positive health behaviours during the program and beyond.
Movember Ahead of the Game (MAOTG)
Comprising a series of mental fitness workshops for young men aged 12-18 years-old, MAOTG is an expert-backed youth mental health program that teaches i) players the skills to stay mentally fit and resilient, ii) parents to understand and recognize mental health challenges in young people, and iii) coaches and club volunteers to understand potential mental health challenges and build mental fitness among their players.
Dad Hero
The Dad HERO (Helping Everyone Realize Opportunities) project is a parenting program in Canadian prisons delivered by Canadian Families and Corrections Network, in partnership with Correctional Service Canada. Offering an 8-week parenting course and dad groups in prison and on the outside, the initiative aims to keep incarcerated dads connected to their children, support their mental health and build their resilience toward successful family reunification.
Dads in Gear
An evidence-based program for dads and grandads who want to be involved, healthy and smoke-free. Taking a masculine, activity-based and interactive approach, the program uses the power of social connections to support men to gain the strength, motivation and tools they need to build healthy lifestyles for themselves and their families.
Truth North Lifestyle Management
This project aims to improve fitness and health-related quality of life for men living with prostate cancer by providing them with educational resources and tools for physical activity, nutrition and stress-reduction. The 12-week community-based program is delivered by qualified exercise professionals with two weekly one-hour group classes (1 resistance training and 1 gentle yoga class). The program also offers a comprehensive health library of evidence-based physical activity, stress-reduction, and nutrition videos and handouts.
White Ribbon Campaign
The world’s largest movement of boys and men working to end gender-based violence and discrimination by promoting healthy masculinities, advancing gender equity and building allyship. Encompassing different public health campaigns including Men of Quality, Boys Don’t Cry, Redefine the Manbox and I Knew All Along, these public health campaigns have engaged millions of people through social and mobile tools to inspire men to speak out against gender-based violence. Interested collaborators can get involved through corporate training and engagement, education and workshops, public awareness campaigns and accountability programs.