Men's mental health issues addressed at event with UBC experts

Be a man about it.

Man up.

Real men don't cry.

Ever heard—or even said—these things?

One of the ways in which men suffer from gender role pressures is how men have traditionally neglected their physical, mental, and emotional health needs because of expectations for men to remain perpetually strong and independent.

Attention has been turning to address this prevalent problem and a men's health movement has been gaining ground.

In this province, there's the Men's Health Initiative of BC, which is a resource with a website that provides online access to health information from various experts.

For Vancouver queer men or MSM (men who have sex with men), the Health Initiative for Men addresses not only sexual health but also physical, emotional, and social health, as they view all of those components as interrelated.

Since this month is Movember, there's a Café Scientifique-style event (or an event in which scientists speak in ordinary, accessible terms) tomorrow that will address what UBC is doing to address male mental health issues.

Men, Movember, and Mental Health is an interactive session in which participants will learn about the latest in mental health research for men. 

Attendees will also learn about subjects ranging from clinical trials to e-health and be able to speak with UBC scientists, clinicians, and mental health advocates regarding men's mental health. 

Speakers include Dr. Raymond Lam and Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez of the UBC psychiatry department and mental-health advocates Josh Barry and Mark Goodwin of HeadsUpGuys, a men's depression resource that provides tips about identifying, managing, and preventing depression.

Dr. Lam will speak about depression and how it affects men in the workplace and other arenas. He'll also speak about the BroMatters Project, an interdisciplinary partnership that is focused on the identification and prevention of depression among men. 

"We really want to get people talking about depression out in the open, in the same way that people now talk about prostate cancer much more freely than they did in the past," Dr. Lam stated. 

"After all, there’s no health without mental health," he also pointed out.

The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Erin Michalak of UBC's psychiatry department.

It'll be held on Wednesday (November 18) from 6 to 8 p.m. at Loafe Café at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre (6163 University Boulevard, UBC).

Light refreshments will be provided, with wine and beer available for purchase.

The event is free but seating is limited. To RSVP, click here.