UBC Applied Science is pioneering Arctic Research and Development activities in Western Canada, leveraging its multidisciplinary expertise, Pacific gateway location and established Indigenous partnerships.
Working and living in remote Arctic communities can place intense pressure on workers who may face long rotations away from family, extreme weather and isolation. These conditions can amplify stress, loneliness, substance use and burnout, especially for men working in sectors where cultural norms discourage seeking help.
Mental health is not just a personal issue. It is also a core safety and workplace issue.
When men struggle, their actions and behaviour affect not only themselves but their teams and the communities where they are living.
That broader impact underscores the importance of understanding and responding to the factors that influence men’s mental health.
Dr. John Oliffe is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Men’s Health Promotion at the School of Nursing. The founder and lead investigator of UBC’s Men’s Health Research Program, he’s particularly interested in how addressing issues before a crisis point can help men be healthier – which benefits their families, relationships, workplaces and communities.
UBC’s Men’s Health Research Program
We talked to Dr. Oliffe about his research and how it applies to human health in harsh climate conditions, like those found in the Arctic.
What strategies work to support men’s mental health?
Our research has found that men respond well to tools that help them track and understand their own patterns. They benefit from using apps on their phone to monitor their moods and connect to what’s happening around them. They do very well in talk therapy when there are key performance indicators in place and when problems can be broken down into manageable parts (cognitive behaviour therapy).
Our research also shows that men will show up for other men – sort of a military code of camaraderie – which can create a reciprocity in terms of mutual support for shared challenges. One tool we introduce to facilitate this is ALEC, a four-step approach people can use to reach out to others. Basically, you Ask open ended questions, Listen actively without trying to solve the problem, Encourage action and then Check back in. The goal is to normalize these kinds of conversations and peer support.
Let’s talk about the Arctic. What added pressures do people face when working on remote job sites?
There are specific challenges for people who are living in the Arctic, whether that’s as part of a fly-in, fly-out mining or resource development operation or working at a research station or defence base for an extended period. Extreme weather, long work shifts and extended periods away from home, family and friends add pressure. People who fly in and out also face the very real challenge of transition points when they return home.
What role does research play in shaping these interventions?
The research we’re doing emphasizes interventions based on empirical evidence. Social media tends to push what I call “lifestyle drift research” where responsibility is placed entirely on individuals. But mental health is shaped by broader, structural determinants, from the prevalence of social media to workplace conditions and the supports available in communities. There are key opportunities to forge partnerships with employers who have remote workers to co-develop interventions that promote mental health and workplace health and safety.
Any final thoughts?
Many work settings in the Arctic are male-dominated. Men have tended to follow the money, aligning with the expected breadwinner, provider and protector identities, which makes a career in the trades or remote work very appealing. We are simultaneously seeing a decline in the number of men attending university in Canada. Yet pressures with remote work heighten substance use risk and relationship distress at home, and as the male labour force changes, we need to be proactive in promoting their mental health rather than waiting to treat illness crises.
The research underway is very transferrable and adaptable to many different environments.
As more organizations recognize the value of supporting men’s mental health, the opportunities for partnerships continue to grow. The research we’re doing here at UBC, our partnership with Movember and work on the upcoming Canadian men’s health framework are all ways we can promote men’s health to the benefit of men and their family, friends, co-workers and community.
