Last updated May 7, 2026. Founded by Zak Hussein in Calgary with a group of everyday Canadian men, now in year four. Spearheading #BeTheFlare for Men’s Mental Health Month 2026 to reach one million Canadians.
When is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day in Canada? June 13 (originally proclaimed by the City of Ottawa in 2014, now observed nationally during MenTELL’s Men’s Mental Health Week, June 9 to 15, 2026).
What is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day? A national day to acknowledge that 75% of suicide deaths in Canada are men, and to give Canadian men a clear way to speak up. See Week 2026. See Month 2026.
Crisis? 9-8-8, free, 24/7.
Quick read: Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day falls on June 13, 2026. It sits inside Men’s Mental Health Week (June 9 to 15) and Men’s Mental Health Month (the full month of June). About 75% of suicide deaths in Canada are men. 67% have never asked for professional support. June 13 is the day to ask one man, twice, how he’s actually doing.
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day in Canada, June 13, 2026
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day in Canada is observed on June 13, 2026. It sits at the heart of Men’s Mental Health Week (June 9, 15) and inside Men’s Mental Health Month (all of June). On this one day, every man in Canada has an excuse to ask another man if he’s actually OK. Join the #BeTheFlare Campaign
What is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day?
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day is the focal point of June’s awareness calendar in Canada, one day where the conversation about men’s mental health is the loudest. MenTELL leads the day each year with our national #BeTheFlare peer-to-peer video campaign: one sentence, two names said out loud, 48 hours to keep the flare alive.
Why June 13, 2026 matters
The numbers behind why this day exists are stark. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada:
- Roughly 75% of the approximately 4,000 Canadians lost to suicide each year are men.
- According to the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, nearly 2 in 3 Canadian men have never used mental health services.
- 64% of Canadian men report moderate-to-high stress (Canadian Men’s Health Study, 2025, Intensions Consulting, n=2,000).
How to take part on June 13
1. Film one sentence
One thing you wish you’d told your younger self about life, struggle, or asking for help. Could be 15 seconds. Could be 45. The simpler, the more it travels.
2. say two names out loud
Look at the camera. Say the names of two brothers in your life. Tag them in the post. A caption is easy to scroll past, your name said out loud by a brother is not.
3. Pass the flare in 48 hours
Close with: “I’m keeping the flare alive. You’ve got 48 hours. #BeTheFlare.” Invite @mentell.ca as a Collab on Instagram and your video lands directly on the MenTELL page.
Men’s Mental Health Day vs. Men’s Mental Health Week vs. Men’s Mental Health Month
| Observance | When | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Mental Health Month | All of June 2026 | National |
| Men’s Mental Health Week | June 9, 15, 2026 | National (MenTELL observance) |
| Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day | June 13, 2026 | National peer-led day, led by MenTELL |
| International Men’s Health Week | June 15, 21, 2026 | Global (ends on Father’s Day) |
| Father’s Day | June 21, 2026 | National |
If you need help right now
- 988 Talk Suicide Canada, call or text 988 free, 24/7, anywhere in Canada.
- Hope for Wellness Helpline (Indigenous), 1-855-242-3310.
- ca/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>, free counselling.
- Find a CMHA branch, cmha.ca
- Trans Lifeline (Canada), 1-877-330-6366.
What MenTELL is doing on June 13, 2026
MenTELL is the movement behind mensmentalhealthmonth.ca and mensmentalhealthweek.ca. On June 13 specifically, we will:
- Drop a mid-month compilation Reel pulled from every man who has joined the #BeTheFlare chain.
- Push 988 Talk Suicide Canada front and centre to every follower.
- Open a 48-hour invitation: any man who hasn’t yet posted gets one specific, personal ask to go.
Why CMHA and Canadian organizations recognize June 13
Per CMHA Ontario, Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day on June 13 is observed by mental health organizations across Canada to normalize conversations about men’s mental health, reduce stigma, and encourage Canadian men to seek help. CMHA highlights that men frequently mask emotional pain with physical symptoms, anger, withdrawal, or substance use rather than naming what they feel, and that “toughing it out” remains the costliest message Canadian men still receive.
Inclusive of every Canadian man
When MenTELL and CMHA branches talk about men’s mental health, that includes trans men, racialized men, gay and bisexual men, and Indigenous men. Per CMHA Ontario:
- Indigenous men, particularly youth, face significantly higher suicide risk linked to intergenerational trauma, systemic barriers to care, and a shortage of culturally safe services.
- 2SLGBTQ+ men, particularly bisexual and trans men, report disproportionately higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance use; over 25% of 2SLGBTQ+ youth have seriously considered suicide.
- Younger men aged 19 to 29, racialized men, and men living alone report higher rates of social isolation and lower rates of accessing care, per CMHA Ontario’s “The Quiet Crisis”.
CMHA branches across Ontario and the rest of Canada offer programs designed for men, from walk-in counselling to culturally safe care and trauma-informed peer support. Find a branch via CMHA’s branch locator.
Use the hashtag #MensMHday
The recognized social hashtag for the day is #MensMHday. MenTELL also uses #BeTheFlare for our peer-to-peer video campaign, and #MenTELLHealth for the broader movement.
FAQ
Is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day officially recognized in Canada?
There is no federal proclamation for a single national day. Manitoba has legislated Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week through Bill 217 (The Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week Act), and MenTELL observes June 13 within that week as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day. MenTELL observes June 13 each year as the day that anchors Men’s Mental Health Month for our community.
How can I support Men’s Mental Health Day in Canada?
Share one real story on June 13 with #BeTheFlare. Check in on the men in your life. Post a 988 link to your followers.
Where can a Canadian man get help on June 13?
Call or text 988 to reach Talk Suicide Canada free, 24/7. Indigenous men: Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-242-3310. Free counselling: at . Sources: Statistics Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Manitoba Bill 217, 988 Talk Suicide Canada.
Verified Canadian resources for men
If you are looking for further Canadian information beyond MenTELL, two trusted sources to bookmark are HeadsUpGuys, a free men’s depression resource built at the University of British Columbia, and the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, the Canadian non, profit behind the 2025 Canadian Men’s Health Study and the Don’t Change Much platform.
If you, or a man you love, are in crisis, please call or text 9-8-8. Free. 24/7. Anywhere in Canada.
