Insights
Learning more about mental health can help us better understand both the challenges and the strengths of Indigenous boys and young men.
This page brings together research, statistics, and insights that highlight important issues, identify gaps in support, and help inform solutions that are grounded in culture, community, and lived experience.
only 16%
of Indigenous people who contacted Kids Help Phone’s crisis response service in 2025 identified as male
Indigenous men die by suicide at significantly higher rates than non-Indigenous men.
First Nations men die by suicide at approximately
2.4 times
the national average.
(Source)
Indigenous men experience
2-5 times more
years of life lost due to suicide than non-Indigenous men in Canada.
(Source)
Male Inuit youth are particularly vulnerable, with suicide attempt rates estimated to be
10 times higher
than those of non-Indigenous male youth.
19.2%
of Indigenous males aged 18 to 24 have contemplated suicide, 7.4% did so in the past 12 months.
(Source)
Research for Deeper Learning
Exploring Mental Health Services and Supports for Indigenous Boys and Men: A Scoping Review (PDF, 4 MB)
Examines gaps in services, programs, and research focused specifically on Indigenous boys and men.
Healing Journeys: Indigenous Men's Reflections on Resources and Barriers to Mental Wellness (2021)
Explores Indigenous men's perspectives on healing, resilience, cultural connection, and barriers to care.
