The Controversy of Men’s Only Spaces
Has Online Feminism Shot Itself in the Foot?
Regardless of your political leanings, I recommend listening to a recent podcast interview, “We Need to Talk About Men’s Mental Health” on Lean Out with host Tara Henley. She interviews, Dr. Zac Seidler, the Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember.
Many important, hot button topics are discussed, such as men’s health being labeled right wing, the controversy of men’s only spaces and the current sobering statistics in Canada.
While the staggering statistics on suicide are well-known, Dr. Seidler argues the crisis is rooted in something simpler: disengagement.
The two forces that have created this tidal wave of crisis:
1. The Cultural Attack on Identity
Masculinity as an original sin. The media narrative telling young men, “Everything you touch is toxic,” creates confusion and shame. When we pull the rug out from underneath the old provider/protector narrative, and don’t replace it with a new doctrine, men ask, “What’s the bloody point? Why would I even try?” This drives retreat.
2. The Failure of the Therapy Model
If men do seek help, they often quickly drop out. The research is clear: The mental health system often fails them because it operates on a “nurturance model” that doesn’t align with male communication styles.
In my own therapy practice, as I detailed in my article, “Men, microdosing and the silent crisis“, this failure is critical. When men are in distress, they tend to externalize—it looks like anger, irritability, or risk-taking, not sadness.
If a therapist misses these symptoms and fails to provide clear structure or goals, men feel weak, misunderstood, and eventually, disengage from the process entirely.
The Path Forward
Here is the important irony: The antidote to this isolation is structured, communal work. Men need community, groups, accountability, and the shared language of competence to heal.
The Movember research is clear: the most effective therapy for men—and the philosophy that drives my practice—is action-oriented, strength-based, and collaborative. It must respect the need for control and measurable progress, turning therapy into a collaborative project.
This shift is critical for everyone: When men heal and find purpose, the positive impact on their partners, children, and community is profound.
My focus has been on the power of groups for years now and my time is spent creating, facilitating and evolving group process. I firmly believe that groups are the future.
The data in this newsletter is based on the comprehensive “The Real Face of Men’s Health Report 2025 – English Canada” published by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. [Link to Movember Report]
I hope you found this helpful and feel free to reply and reach out for further info and resources.
If you are ready to try a different approach—one designed for men to find meaning and reclaim purpose—the goal is not endless talk; it’s tangible progress.
Feel welcome to book your 1:1 strategy session here and reply here to be added to the waitlist for the next group cycle of Men, Meaning + Microdosing.
Cheers,
Dr. John Álvarez
Men, Meaning + Microdosing #23
#men #meditation #psychedelics #relationships #stress #mentalhealth #therapy #groups #mma #garudacentre #drjohnalvarez
