Checking in on Canadians
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Men’s mental health, stigma and AI trends as we enter 2026
What do the latest data tell us about the mental health of people in Canada as 2026 begins? Drawing on findings from MHRC’s 25th and 26th national polls, this session examines several emerging trends, with particular attention to men’s mental health and stigma. The data show that substance dependency is three to four times higher among young men than in the general population and that men are more likely than women to report suicidal ideation or a suicide plan, yet are less likely to seek support when they need it. The discussion also examines persistent stigma, including the finding that nearly one in three people with a diagnosed mental health condition report feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
The session also explores the growing use of artificial intelligence for mental health support and the significant gap between adoption and public trust. Poll 25 found that almost one in 10 people in Canada had used AI tools for mental health support, with particularly high uptake among younger people and some equity-deserving communities. While 84% of people who had used these tools found them helpful, only 17% of the general population trusted them, raising important questions about why people are turning to AI, where these tools may be filling gaps and what will be required to build confidence in their safe and effective use.
Expert Voices
Michael Cooper
Vice-President, Data & Partnerships, Mental Health Research Canada
Michael Cooper leads MHRC’s work using large-scale population data to understand mental health trends across Canada. As a presenter in this session, he helps place the latest national polling findings in context, examining what the data reveal about men’s mental health, help-seeking and stigma, and how emerging patterns can inform broader conversations about mental health supports and systems.
Shauna Major
Data Set Manager & Knowledge Mobilization, Mental Health Research Canada
Shauna Major works at the intersection of mental health data and knowledge mobilization, helping translate research findings into accessible insights. In this session, she contributes to the presentation and interpretation of MHRC’s national polling, helping unpack emerging trends and what they may tell us about mental health experiences, behaviours and the changing ways people seek support.
Health Canada, Pollara Strategic Insights
What is the National Polling Webinar Series?
MHRC’s National Polling Webinar Series brings findings from our ongoing national polling initiative into accessible conversations about the mental health of people in Canada. Since 2020, the polling has tracked mental health indicators and the social, economic and health-related factors influencing them, while the webinar series examines how those findings can inform understanding and action through meaningful knowledge mobilization. The series is sponsored by Health Canada.
