Supporting Men’s Health in the Workplace: Are Your Benefits Actually Supporting You?
- May 5
- 3 min read
Men’s health is still getting overlooked, especially in the workplace. Cultural expectations around masculinity seem to be growing and “tough it out,” “man up” or “walk it off” are common phrases that capture a broader cultural expectation placed on men to suppress pain, endure hardship, or remain emotionally stoic. These beliefs are being increasingly perpetuated, especially online. In the workplace, this often manifests as a prioritization of performance over prevention, and results in men delaying seeking support until their concerns become serious, if at all.
This leaves men feeling unsupported, or unable to access support, even when it exists. The data tells us that there’s a gap between having benefits and actually using them and that this gap may be even more significant for men. For mental health concerns, that gap is even wider. In 2025, a Canadian Men’s Health Foundation survey found 67% of men had never used professional mental health services, even though 64% report moderate to high levels of stress (a number that has been increasing year on year).
Common barriers to seeking support include the already mentioned stigma around asking for help, but lack of awareness, confusing coverage details and limited time or energy to navigate systems are also common reasons why benefits are not accessed. This leaves benefits, especially preventative resources, largely unused.
The types of support men often need most
Mental health and burnout aren’t the only reasons why male employees might need support. Their physical health should be a priority too. Males are twice as likely to die from “preventable causes” than females. In many cases, this is due to lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking and having poorer diets - all of which could be supported by employee benefits. For example, some plans cover prescription smoking cessation aids, Employee Assistance Plans (EAPs) sometimes offer confidential lifestyle coaching and wellness spending accounts could be used for healthy meal services.
Financial pressures are also a major source of stress for many men, which could be supported through a protection - stability - growth approach to money matters, available through a variety of employee financial benefits. Although statistically women are more likely to experience poor sleep and insomnia, men’s sleep is highly impacted by chronic stress. So too is energy and overall wellbeing. Men also struggle with work-life balance and family responsibilities, leaving them strained both in the workplace and in other parts of their lives. It also leaves them feeling isolated. As you can see, there’s a theme being repeated here: men are subject to a lot of stress and access to counselling, virtual care, and wellness resources is critical.
Signs your benefits may not be fully supporting you
While there are a number of potential resources available to support men, these benefits might still not be fully supporting you, or the men in your life. Here are some signs that something isn’t quite working:
You avoid using your benefits because the process feels confusing
You’re paying out-of-pocket for support you thought was covered
You don’t know what resources are included in your plan
Accessing care feels difficult or time-consuming
Your benefits technically exist, but don’t feel useful in real life
How to advocate for yourself and access better support
If you’re feeling like you might be missing out on available support, here are some steps you can take to help advocate for yourself:
Ask questions about what your plan actually covers
Take advantage of preventative and wellness resources early
Reach out to HR or your benefits advisor for clarification
Pay attention to gaps between your needs and your coverage
Don’t assume support “isn’t for you”
Use available resources before stress or health issues escalate
There are also a number of free resources that you can access beyond those available in the workplace. Here are some recommended options:
Podcasts
In Good Company with Dr. Paul Sharp
Gent’s Talk
Dad Central: A parenting podcast
Don’t Change Much
Man Talks with Connor Beaton
Modern Manhood
Breaking the Boy Code
Websites
Support Only Helps if You Use It
Your benefits are there to support you – but they can only help if you understand what’s available and feel comfortable accessing it. Taking the time to explore your coverage, ask questions, book preventative appointments, or access mental health support isn't a weakness, it’s part of taking care of yourself before things reach a breaking point.
Support doesn’t just stop with you. Checking in on coworkers, encouraging open conversations, and normalizing asking for help can make a real difference for the people around you too. Better conversations around men’s health don’t just benefit individuals – they help create healthier, more supportive workplaces for everyone.
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