Abstract:In New Zealand, compared to women men have poor health outcomes in a range of domains. Men also report barriers (both personal and structural) in seeking information to improve health and wellbeing. This paper reports a pilot project that investigated the informationseeking of New Zealand men during episodes of mental and physical ill health. The research investigated the ways in which information can be provided to encourage men to engage in information-seeking in a more timely way to improve their health and wellbeing. Results suggest that New Zealand men face considerable barriers accessing information and support and that the pathways to care are often unclear or absent. These findings demonstrate challenges and opportunities to service providers in terms of engaging men. Further research opportunities are also discussed.

For many people the term mental health means only something to do with a mental illness, or having a mental health problem. It's as if mental health is something be avoided, or at least not valued. Mental health also has a positive side to it however, closely aligned to concepts such as wellbeing, happiness, flourishing and positive psychology. Positive mental health is a state that can increase general health and wellbeing, and resilience.

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