In the month of June, Men's Mental Heal Awareness Month, Catholic support continues to show up and respond with intentional, faith-centred promotion of both the spiritual and practical dimensions of men’s mental health. 

One notable and established program is “That Man Is You” (TMIY), an initiative of Paradisus Dei that has been running for over two decades. Launched in Texas, the program has since reached dozens of parishes across the United States and Canada, engaging more than 100,000 men worldwide. 

With a core approach of providing in-person, parish-based small groups of men with hopes of rebuilding community and drawing attendees back to the parish as the centre of their lives, TMIY has been rebuilding authentic Catholic brotherhood and reminding men they belong in places far beyond their home lives. 

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Michael Gormley, a  mission evangelist for Paradisus Dei, spoke to the reality of men’s mental health in today’s culture — having seen it at both its highest and lowest. 

“ When you stop and look at all of the statistics, you find that there is a profound lack of community among men, especially once they get out of college — it becomes so much more difficult for men to have and maintain close friendships,” he said. “The nature of men not seeking comes in a twofold way, a sort of stubbornness that pain might just go away, but also society as a whole not wanting to hear men complaining.” 

Those compounding factors, rooted deeply in male culture as we know it, can be admittedly tricky to break. However, through a combination of Church teaching, the wisdom of the saints and practical tools for improving marriage, fatherhood and moral life, combined with the program’s small-group accountability, TMIY has been helping Catholic men root their identity in God first and what He gives, not just what He demands.

The statistics Gormley cites surrounding men's mental health are astounding. Research conducted by the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation (CMHF) released on May 29, 2025, shows that more men in Canada are struggling with high levels of stress and depression. The foundation also found that half of men lack sufficient social support systems, with most never seeking professional mental health support.

The national survey of 2,000 men, conducted in April 2025 by CMHF and Intensions Consulting, showed that as many as 64 per cent of men reported having moderate-to-high levels of stress, 50 per cent were at risk of social isolation and 67 per cent reported never seeking out a professional mental health service. 

Perhaps even more alarming is the reality that men in Canada account for nearly 75 per cent of suicide deaths. The Government of Canada’s Health Infobase said every day, 10 men take their lives, amounting to 3,560 deaths per year, with suicide among men occurring at three times the rate of women. 

TMIY, even amidst an uphill battle, is bearing fruit in ways Gormley says are life-saving. 

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“ I remember doing a retreat where a man came up to me halfway and told me he was a part of Alcoholics Anonymous for 30 years and a part of That Man Is You for 10. He said, ‘The problem with the men in this room is that they really like this program, but they haven't yet realized that they truly need it.’ He told me that in order to stay sober, and to stay alive, he needed this,” he said. 

Gormley also noted a common occurrence with men in the program, something he suspects is the case with men at large — struggles that threaten men’s mental health are remarkably similar across location, social class, upbringing and life experiences. 

“There have been times, even for myself, where pressures have been almost line for line what another man has been dealing with. Men should be able to feel that relief when someone says ‘Me too.’ It makes us realize we’re not alone,” he said. 

Apart from parish gatherings, Catholic agencies meet men where they are through professional mental health and family services. Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto male engagement worker Moaz Choudhury has spent the last nine years supporting men navigating stress, burnout, relationship breakdown and child welfare involvement. Choudhury has been helping fathers address their own mental health challenges while strengthening their roles in family life.

While challenges often surface and intensify in the context of child welfare involvement, inter-partner violence and parent-child relationship strain, Choudhury’s observed impact bears witness to a unique blend of spiritual and professional support. 

“ Values and beliefs are extremely closely tied to mental health and self-awareness in that the idea of knowing who you are and your purpose or meaning is a core pillar of wellness. At CCAS, we have a pastoral advisor within the society to provide support, spiritual counselling and intervention prayers to families upon request,” he said. 

“There is often a certain level of resistance, skepticism, almost defensiveness in the beginning, but as you continue to develop the relationship, men open themselves up to care and compassion. You start to see a rich conversation unfolding, often ones that are honest and transparent in where men are wanting to take accountability and responsibility.”  

While no one mental health support, Catholic in its delivery, identity or otherwise, will be able to prevent mental health issues entirely, the influence of offerings spanning from church pews to professional programs is a reassuring sign that assistance remains available in a profound manner. 

This June, those who are struggling, or know someone who is, are encouraged to break the isolation. 

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“You are not alone in this struggle — the biggest weight comes off when you can connect with others, whether a professional in the social services field or even someone within the community,” Choudhury said. 

“Pray the Rosary and meet with other men,” Gormley added. “If you are truly caught in darkness, the first trick of the devil is to make you feel alone. Once you bring people into that, all of a sudden that level of attack, it just fades away.”