Partnered Partnered content Advocates call for domestic violence supports in Canada’s upcoming men’s health strategy

Through partnerships with 211, organizations can connect men with support services in an accessible, streamlined way. (Stock/Canva.)

As the federal government prepares to launch its first-ever Men and Boys’ Health Strategy later this year, experts say supports to address intimate partner violence must be a part of the conversation.

The World Health Organization classifies intimate partner violence as a major global public health concern.

Breaking that cycle requires coordinated support systems that make it easy for men to seek help from professionals to address behavior, accountability and prevention, said Karen Milligan, CEO of 211 Ontario.

“It’s important to meet men where they’re at and provide support sooner in the process, rather than after they’ve been charged with an offense, to try to break that cycle of violence that happens in families over many generations,” said Milligan. 

The strategy’s purpose is to create supportive and safe environments, challenge harmful stereotypes, reduce stigma and encourage men of all ages to get help when they need it, according to Health Canada.

Men aged 15 to 24 reported an 18 per cent drop in their mental health wellbeing between 2012 and 2022, from 70 per cent to 52 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.

Through partnerships with 211 and family service organizations, men can access support through a streamlined and accessible way while being connected to specialized counselling programs designed to address mental health, relationship issues and violence prevention.

“If we can get a program like this that is more preventative to be successful, then we avoid some of those more expensive crisis supports that are necessary when violence happens,” Milligan said.

The connection between navigation and counselling services is critical because men often need multiple forms of support simultaneously, she said.

“They might present with one issue, but there are often underlying needs, and our navigators are trained to connect them to services across a broad spectrum,” she said.

Free, confidential support available 

Nearly half of women in Canada in relationships will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime, Statistics Canada found. 

In Ontario, the Men’s Counselling Link combines 211 Ontario’s navigation and referral system with the counselling expertise of Family Service Ontario agencies to provide free and confidential support for men across the province.

“There’s a stereotype out there that men don’t reach out for help,” said Susan Somogyi, CEO of Family Service Ontario.

“From the experience of Family Service agencies across the province, men do reach out for help when help is provided in a way that fits their needs and it is responsive to them,” she said.

The service works smoothly because 211 provides an easy access point for men seeking help, she added, while Family Service providers respond with support tailored to each individual. 

The Ontario government funded the program in 2025, and now leaders say the service should be nationwide.

“It’s beyond just mental health counselling,” Somogyi said.

“It’s really directed towards men who are reaching out because they want to be better husbands and fathers, and they want to potentially address some of the experiences that they had growing up as children and not wanting to repeat behaviours.”

Men respond best when services are available in their time of need, she added.

“We would like to see men get counseling before things escalate,” said Somogyi.

Expanding free programs across the country could be life-saving. 

“Sometimes our family service agencies that are doing this counseling, couples will call and want help, but that isn’t funded. And then sometimes while they’re sitting waiting on a charitable donation wait list, the situation escalates and turns violent.”

Prevention

211 Ontario and Family Service Ontario launched its program after seeing the success of a similar model in Nova Scotia.

Its Men’s Helpline is offered through Family Service Nova Scotia.

In 2024, Nova Scotia declared domestic violence an epidemic.

“The department has done a great job of really expanding our services so we can act more on prevention,” said Tod Augusta Scott, executive director of Bridges Institute, a non-profit counselling service that addresses relationship issues, anger management, and preventing domestic violence.

The organization has been operating since the ‘90s, but recent data shows a significant demand from men seeking help voluntarily, not just through court orders or child protection mandates. 

It led the province to expand programs so men can access support before abuse happens. 

An important factor in prevention is providing support through an integrated model, Augusta Scott added.

“We get them connected with agencies that can help them with the social determinants of health.”

“The men were talking to us about poverty, homelessness, trauma that they experienced, and wanting help and services.”

But all of these supports need to work together to be effective, he added.

Spousal violence is estimated to cost Canadians about $7.4 billion a year, including health care, justice system costs and lost wages, according to a 2009 study by the federal government.

Rural connection

The benefits of expanding 211’s partnership with family service organizations across Canada would be significant, especially in rural areas where rates of domestic violence are much higher.

Last year, Saskatchewan RCMP responded to 9,899 victims of family and intimate partner violence, with 50 per cent of those cases occurring in the province’s northern region, according to an RCMP report.

“There are many Saskatchewan residents that live several hours away from the nearest services,” said Kirk Englot, CEO of Family Service Regina.

The rate of police-reported intimate partner violence in rural areas are nearly double those in cities, according to the newest Statistics Canada numbers.

The rate of intimate partner homicides in rural areas is also nearly twice as high as in urban areas.

In 2024, the Saskatchewan government provided funding to support a partnership between 211 Saskatchewan and Family Service Regina’s Re:CONNECT Helpline to streamline navigation services with specialized men’s counselling to support those impacted by interpersonal violence. 

Since then, Englot says they have served more than 100 rural communities in the province. 

“In some cases, the best way to receive services is through a virtual means or through the phone because they might live in a small or rural area or on a farm where services aren’t immediately available,” said Englot.

Prevention is key, he said. 

“If we’re going to move the needle on intimate partner violence, we really have to be engaging those at risk of using violence.”

Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia have all seen the benefits of accessible men’s mental health services delivered through 211, said Milligan.

“The model is about making help easy to access, including through a simple three-digit number like 211,” Milligan said.

Expanding 211’s partnership with family service organizations in more provinces and territories could drastically improve early intervention to help more men and families, she said. 

The federal government is inviting organizations and sector experts to share how they believe men can be better supported in its upcoming strategy.

The department is taking suggestions until June 1.