June is for Men’s Mental Health: How Toronto Men Can Get Support

Jun 17

Written By Dawid G

Silence Isn’t Strength, It’s Stress in Disguise…

We’ve built a culture where men are supposed to handle it on their own. Push through. Suck it up. Don’t talk about it. Don’t ask for help. And it’s killing us quietly.

In Canada, June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, but for most guys, it’s just another month of white-knuckling through stress, burnout, depression, or loneliness. Not because they don’t feel it but because they’ve been taught not to name it.

Let’s call that what it really is: isolation.

The Stats Don’t Lie!

Here’s what we’re up against:

Males are almost three times more likely to die by suicide than females
1 in 10 Canadian men experience major depression in their lifetime.
Men are significantly less likely to access mental health services even when they need them.

📚 Source: StatCan - Statistical Checkup of Canadian Mens Health
📚 Source: StatCan - Men’s Mental Health: How Are Canadian Men Doing?

That’s not about weakness. That’s about pressure. Pressure to perform, provide, compete. Pressure to “man up” even when you’re crumbling inside.

And here’s what doesn’t help: workplaces that praise burnout, relationships where vulnerability is misunderstood, and a healthcare system that still doesn’t speak men’s language.

Not All Pain Looks Like Sadness

Men’s mental health struggles often go unnoticed because they don’t always look like the clichés.

It’s not always crying in the dark or staying in bed. For a lot of guys, it looks like:

Irritability that seems to come out of nowhere
Snapping at loved ones over small things
Withdrawing from friends and family
Obsessing over work or overtraining at the gym
Substance use just to slow the mind down
Feeling numb, like nothing really matters

You tell yourself you’re just tired. That you need a vacation. That other people have it worse. But deep down, something’s not right. You know it. Your body knows it.

This is what we mean when we say silence isn’t strength. It’s just another way of carrying pain alone.

What Stops Men From Getting Help?

Let’s be real: for a lot of guys, therapy doesn’t exactly feel like a natural next step. That’s not your fault. Therapy’s been marketed like it’s only for people who are “falling apart.”

But here’s the truth:

Therapy is not about venting. It’s about understanding your stress patterns and building tools to deal with them.
It’s not about fixing you. It’s about helping you make sense of what’s happening internally so you stop spinning.
You don’t have to “hit rock bottom” to go. You just need to feel like something could be better.

The biggest barrier for most men isn’t time or money. It’s the belief that they have to solve everything themselves. That admitting struggle equals failure.

But how’s that been working?

A Better Way Forward

If you’ve been feeling like something’s off but don’t know where to start, this month is your opportunity. Therapy is a quiet space where the mask can come off. Where nobody expects you to have all the answers.

At NuHu Therapy, we offer virtual therapy for men across Ontario - including Toronto. That means you can talk to a therapist from your own space. No waiting rooms. No awkward small talk. Just a real human conversation.

Whether you’re dealing with burnout, anger, anxiety, past trauma, or a full-blown identity crisis, we’ve got therapists who speak your language.

Book Your Free Consult

Meet Steele D’Silva

Steele D’Silva, MA, is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at NuHu Therapy in Toronto, specializing in men’s issues, spirituality, trauma, and addiction. With over 17 years of personal mindfulness and Vipassana meditation experience, he brings a deeply integrative and trauma-informed approach,drawing from client-centered therapy, IFS, DBT, and CBT in order to create a safe, non-judgmental space for men to explore their mental health and find authentic support . In this video, Steele speaks directly to men about breaking stigma, recognizing when to reach out, and how to find meaningful care that meets their unique needs.

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What Men’s Therapy Actually Looks Like—and Why It Works

Let’s talk about what happens after you say yes to help.

Because for most men, the hardest part isn’t the therapy itself, it’s just getting in the door. It’s breaking through the idea that you should already have it together. That somehow asking for help means you’ve failed.

Here’s the truth: therapy isn’t weakness. It’s training. Just like you go to the gym to get stronger physically, therapy is how you get stronger mentally and emotionally. And in the long run, it builds the kind of clarity, confidence, and calm that changes everything.

Why Men Are Wired for Strategy, Not Sympathy

A lot of men avoid therapy because they think it’ll be all emotions and no action. But therapy, especially with the right therapist, is far from a pity party.

You want answers? A plan? A way to stop circling the drain? Good therapy gives you exactly that.

At NuHu Therapy, we work with men who are used to holding it together for everyone else. Executives, tradesmen, creatives, caregivers. Guys who’ve had to carry their own trauma, manage other people’s emotions, and still show up every day. We build sessions that respect your time and get to the point.

Therapy with us is:

Direct, but never cold
Strategic, but always human
Structured, but flexible to your life

This isn’t about labeling you. It’s about liberating you from the patterns you’re stuck in.

The Stuff You Didn’t Know Was Trauma

Men often downplay what they’ve been through.

It wasn’t “that bad.”

It happened a long time ago.

I turned out fine.

But trauma isn’t about how dramatic something looks on the surface. It’s about what your nervous system had to do to survive it.

A dad who yelled all the time
A boss who made you feel worthless
A partner who manipulated or shut you down
A childhood where affection came with conditions
Never being allowed to cry, question, or slow down

These things don’t always leave scar but they leave patterns. Emotional reactivity, shutdowns, perfectionism, control, anxiety. Therapy helps you trace those patterns back to the root so you can finally stop living on autopilot.

3 Indian men sitting by river — Therapy isn’t soft, it’s solid ground for men who are tired of sinking.

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What Therapy Actually Looks Like

Let’s say you book that first session. You’re wondering—what happens next?

Here’s a breakdown of what it’s really like when you start therapy with us:

You pick a time that works for you. We meet virtually, from wherever you’re most comfortable.
You don’t have to explain everything perfectly. You talk. We listen. We ask questions that get to the root.
There’s no judgment, no checklist, no pressure.
We build a roadmap together. You decide what matters most.

We might use evidence-based approaches like CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to help you shift thinking traps. Or somatic and mindfulness tools to help regulate anger, panic, or sleep issues. But the biggest part? You finally feel seen.

The Problems Men Bring Into Therapy—And What We Help With

You don’t need a diagnosis to go to therapy. You just need a sense that something’s off.

Here are some of the most common reasons men in Toronto reach out:

Burnout that no vacation seems to fix
Irritability and anger that comes out at the wrong times
Porn or substance use that’s starting to feel like a dependency
Relationship breakdowns and communication problems
Disconnection—from self, from others, from purpose
Anxiety that hits at night, or panic attacks that come out of nowhere
Perfectionism or a sense of never being enough
Loss or grief that’s stuck under the surface
Isolation, even in a room full of people

You’re not “too broken” for therapy. You’re not “too late.” You’re just ready.

🧠 Q&A: Men’s Mental Health Support in Toronto

Q: Why is men’s mental health such a big focus in June?

A: June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the silent struggles many men face but rarely talk about. Statistically, men are less likely to seek therapy and more likely to suffer from untreated mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use. The goal isn’t just awareness, it’s to open doors and change the narrative around emotional health for men.

Q: I don’t feel “depressed,” but I’m not doing great either. Should I still talk to someone?

A: Absolutely. You don’t need to hit rock bottom to ask for help. Many men describe feeling “off,” stuck, numb, or just not themselves but don’t label it as depression. That in-between zone matters. Therapy can help you get clarity before things spiral and give you the tools to manage what you’re carrying more effectively.

Q: What are some signs that I might benefit from therapy?

A: Here are a few signs we hear from clients:

You feel chronically stressed, irritable, or burned out
You’ve lost interest in things that used to matter
You’re struggling with motivation, sleep, or relationships
You’re coping with alcohol, porn, weed, or overworking
You don’t feel safe opening up to people in your life

If any of those resonate, therapy might help. It’s not about labeling you, it’s about supporting you.

Q: I’m worried therapy will feel awkward or judgmental. What can I expect?

A: That’s a common concern, especially for men who’ve never opened up before. At NuHu, therapy is a judgment-free space. Our job isn’t to fix you it’s to help you make sense of what’s going on, set goals, and feel more in control of your life. You set the pace. You choose the focus. You’re in the driver’s seat.

Q: Do I need a referral or a diagnosis to start therapy?

A: Nope. You don’t need a referral from a doctor, and you don’t need a diagnosis to begin. You can reach out directly, book a free 20-minute consultation, and we’ll match you with a therapist who fits your needs. Therapy is for anyone ready to make a change, not just those in crisis.

Q: Is therapy covered by insurance in Ontario?

A: In most cases, yes. Many extended health benefits cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) — which includes our therapists at NuHu. We don’t bill insurance directly, but we provide receipts you can submit for reimbursement. Always check your specific plan to confirm what’s covered.

Q: I have a busy schedule. Do you offer evening or weekend sessions?

A: We do. NuHu Therapy offers fully virtual sessions with flexible booking, including early mornings, evenings, and some weekends. No travel. No commute. Just log in from wherever you feel comfortable like your home, your car, even your job site if you need to.

Q: I’m not great with talking. Can therapy still work for me?

A: You don’t have to be a talker to benefit from therapy. Some guys prefer goal-focused sessions, others need space to vent or just have someone listen without judgment. We’ll meet you where you’re at. Even just showing up and saying “I’m not sure what to talk about” is a solid place to begin.

Q: How do I get started with NuHu Therapy?

A: You can book a free 20-minute consultation through our website here. No pressure, no commitment just a chance to ask questions, talk about what’s going on, and see if it feels like the right fit. You deserve support that works for you.