National men's health strategy consultations begin with aspiring Olympian

Federal consultations on a national men's health strategy began in Ottawa and included remarks from skateboarder Richie Bullbrook; officials said the public engagement will run through June.

Consultations to develop a national men's health strategy were launched at a federal event in Ottawa. Richie Bullbrook, a 22-year-old skateboarder from London, Ont., spoke about concussion, ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder and urged more openness about men's mental health. Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the engagement will gather input from men and boys between now and June. The government cited statistics and a Movember Institute study as part of the case for a focused strategy. Key points: - The launch event featured personal testimony from Richie Bullbrook about mental-health struggles and the importance of normalizing vulnerability among men. - Federal officials cited statistics including that 28 per cent of men meet criteria for a substance-use disorder in their lifetime and that 72 per cent of suspected opioid toxicity deaths between July 2024 and June 2025 were among males. - Organizers said consultations will collect public input through June and referenced a Movember Institute estimate of potential economic benefits from addressing men's health concerns. Summary: The government has opened a period of public consultations intended to inform a national men's health strategy, with officials seeking perspectives on mental health, substance use, social isolation and related issues. The engagement is scheduled to run through June; further steps after the consultation period were not detailed.