The mental health of young men is declining. Experts warn it could get worse

Young Canadian men are reporting markedly worse mental health over the past decade: self-reported mood disorders among 15- to 24-year-old men rose from 11% to 16% and generalized anxiety from 4% to 10% between 2012 and 2022, while those saying their health was "very good" or "excellent" fell from 70% to 52%. Suicide remains a major risk - men are three times more likely than women to die by suicide and it’s the second-leading cause of death for people aged 15-34. Experts link the trend to social isolation (exacerbated by pandemic lockdowns), heavy social media exposure, the rise of the online manosphere and troubling influencers, and a surge in gambling harms since single-event sports betting was legalized in 2021; emergency visits for gambling disorders have doubled, often involving young men in crisis.

Researchers and clinicians point to shifting gender roles, stigma about emotional vulnerability, and a shortage of positive male mentors as core drivers. Lower rates of men in postsecondary education and male-dominated industries with high substance-use risks add pressure. The government has launched a consultation and plans a boys-and-men mental-health strategy by early 2027 emphasizing mentorship, peer support, sport and safer online spaces. Individuals who sought help report recovery and now act as role models, while advocates call for sustained investment to reverse what they see as a widening public-health problem.