Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families
Publisher: In-Sight Publishing
Publisher Founding: March 1, 2014
Web Domain: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com
Location: Fort Langley, Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Journal: In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal
Journal Founding: August 2, 2012
Frequency: Three (3) Times Per Year
Review Status: Non-Peer-Reviewed
Access: Electronic/Digital & Open Access
Fees: None (Free)
Volume Numbering: 13
Issue Numbering: 1
Section: A
Theme Type: Idea
Theme Premise: “Outliers and Outsiders”
Theme Part: 32
Formal Sub-Theme: None.
Individual Publication Date: November 22, 2024
Issue Publication Date: January 1, 2025
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Word Count: 1,108
Image Credits: Photo by Taylor on Unsplash.
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2369-6885
Please see the footnotes, bibliography, and citations, after the publication.*
Abstract
The 2024 International Conference on Men and Families will be held in Toronto from September 26-28, addressing critical issues facing boys and men. Topics include father involvement, suicide, mental health, and legal biases. With three keynote addresses and over 50 presentations from more than 10 countries, the event aims to raise awareness and promote programs for an overlooked population. Hosted by the International Families Alliance and sponsored by the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, it’s open to the public online and in person. Dr. Susan Chuang is a Professor at the University of Guelph and the conference organizer.
Keywords: expanding mental health understanding, integrating lived experiences, International Conference on Men and Families, issues related to boys and men, social relationships and mental health, trauma in children, victimization and barriers faced.
Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: So, there’s the International Conference on Men and Families in Toronto, from September 26th to 28th, at the Holiday Inn Downtown Centre. What brings you to this particular conference? Is there a specific theme to which people should be paying attention this year?
Dr. Susan Chuang: I’m speaking today because this three-day conference focuses on issues related to boys and men and their social relationships. These issues receive little attention, whether in the media, public discourse, or even academia, especially regarding topics like victimization and the challenges and barriers they face.
Issues of men and victimization often receive minimal attention and this makes it difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of mental health, which is both a human and gender issue. Whether it’s related to violence, family violence, or situations where boys and men may be victims or perpetrators, it’s essential to have a more nuanced understanding of the complexities and dynamics involved.
This year’s conference isn’t just about discussing families and communities. We’re also exploring other factors that may contribute to men’s mental health and the impact on their various relationships such as childhood experiences of trauma. This year’s focus is more on a life-course approach, examining the experiences of boys and men and how these experiences shape their lives.
Jacobsen: Young, racialized males tend to make up a significant portion of homicide victims in Toronto. The suicide rate for men in Canada is also three times higher than that for women, especially in terms of completion.
Are there particular workshops addressing these issues? Are there presentations exploring the challenges faced by these specific demographics of men and young men?
Chuang: The conference is designed to unite people and provide different perspectives on these issues. Attendees will gain new insights because, as we know, no one has all the answers. People are not only learning for their work, whether it be research or programs, but they’re also gaining a better understanding of these topics from different viewpoints.
It’s important to hear from experts who can help us implement the latest research. For instance, this year, we have presenters who discuss their research while others present a compilation of studies (meta-analyses which systematically review numerous research articles), while others present data on numerous countries.
This approach allows us to identify common patterns and themes that may only sometimes be apparent. Often, we only realize these patterns anecdotally, but having a broader view across different studies helps us better understand the experiences of boys and men.
There’s also a significant topic that people often overlook: trauma in children. For instance, one in five children may experience some form of family abuse, and we need to understand how these children grow up and the impact it has on them as adults.
If we don’t understand those life experiences, how do we deal with these issues now, and how do we figure out ways to move forward? For instance, if people in the audience are presenting lived experiences, we hear the devastation, such as in cases of false allegations, right?
But it’s not just about complaining or criticizing the system; it’s more about, ‘How did I deal with it? How did I manage to pull myself out of it?’ Everyone is learning something valuable from those experiences. So, it’s people with lived experiences and service providers, lawyers, and family mediators—what are they doing to help create stronger communities and better lives?
This particular topic, social relationships and related issues, was chosen because it is so broad in relevance. While social relationships could encompass many topics, we wanted to narrow the focus to make the discussions more in-depth to help us operationalize the issues.
What’s critical about this year’s theme is its evolution from previous years. In 2022, we explicitly focused on the victimization of boys and men. The second year also covered abuse, exploring whether boys and men were perpetrators or victims—often, the relationships were bidirectional, with 53% reporting that both parties were engaged in a form of abuse against the other. This year, we focused more on mental health and social relationships.
When you listen to the data, you hear the complexities and interconnectedness among mental health, social relationships, and community dynamics. You hear that theme over and over again—the bottom line is that mental health impacts all aspects of life, including social relationships. Moving forward, we need to build greater awareness. How can you effectively deal with the issue if you don’t understand it?
I’m a professor and researcher, but I always advocate for integrating lived experiences into academic work. We need to make our research more relevant and applied rather than simply publishing it for a limited academic audience. For instance, if 100 people read it, fine but what does that mean in practice? How do we make research more meaningful and relevant for the community?
One of the benefits of this conference is that because we’re focused on a narrower topic, there’s greater collaboration. Since 2022, we’ve seen more international collaborations develop, and now we’re working across disciplines and professions to apply these findings globally. Other countries are doing remarkable things—how can we use those lessons here?
Jacobsen: What issues have speakers noted where significant changes can be made to improve the mental health of boys and men? Are there areas where we don’t have treatments or answers yet?
Chuang: If you look at this year’s program, it’s about expanding our understanding of lived experiences and focusing on integrating that into mental health treatment and research. We need a more connected approach to addressing these challenges.
But it’s the estrangement, the loss of contact between fathers and their children, and extended families with their children—that’s one of the critical issues we’re learning about today. The goal is also to understand how the legal system is being utilized and how it may be causing harm to families. Gatekeeping has played a role in that. It’s more about the difficulties fathers face and why some may feel driven to take their own lives.
Jacobsen: That’s right. One of the issues I’m most in contact with is parental alienation, and there are some aspects I’m particularly excited about exploring.
Jacobsen: Which sessions are you most excited about?
Chuang: It’s interesting to look at the research and services available, especially regarding interviewing children and how they’re handled in these complex situations. The training sessions are also exciting as delegates can “take it home” and use immediately in their personal and professional lives. I’ll send you the link to the session schedule—obviously, you’re busy, but you’ll have some time to pull it up when you can.
Jacobsen: Take care.
Footnotes
None
Citations
American Medical Association (AMA 11th Edition): Jacobsen S. Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families. November 2024; 13(1). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/chuang
American Psychological Association (APA 7th Edition): Jacobsen, S. (2024, November 22). Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families’. In-Sight Publishing. 13(1).
Brazilian National Standards (ABNT): JACOBSEN, S. Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families’. In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, Fort Langley, v. 13, n. 1, 2024.
Chicago/Turabian, Author-Date (17th Edition): Jacobsen, Scott. 2024. “Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families’.” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal 13, no. 1 (Winter). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/chuang.
Chicago/Turabian, Notes & Bibliography (17th Edition): Jacobsen, S. “Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families.” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal 13, no. 1 (November 2024). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/chuang.
Harvard: Jacobsen, S. (2024) ‘Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families’, In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, 13(1). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/chuang.
Harvard (Australian): Jacobsen, S 2024, ‘Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families’, In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/chuang.
Modern Language Association (MLA, 9th Edition): Jacobsen, Scott. “Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families.” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, vo.13, no. 1, 2024, http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/chuang.
Vancouver/ICMJE: Jacobsen S. Conversation with Dr. Susan Chuang on the 2024 International Conference on Men and Families [Internet]. 2024 Nov; 13(1). Available from: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/chuang.
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