The Northern Health Region is promoting the Buddy Up Program again this June.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotions Coordinator with the NHR, explains what the program is.

“June is Buddy Up month and what it is, it’s a program that promotes authentic conversations between men and their buddies to raise awareness for men’s issues, specifically suicide. Turns out that men have a suicide rate three times higher then women.”

There are a number of factors that contribute to this alarming statistic.

Typically, men have been socialized to be strong, stoic and self-reliant, and taught that showing emotion is a sign of weakness, as is asking for help.

Further, men are under-served by our traditional health and social service sectors.

The Buddy Up Program encourages men to reach out to their male friends to check in and start a conversation about any changes they have noticed that concern them.

For more on the program go to buddyup.ca.