Young Men, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Services: Exploring Barriers and Solutions

Abstract

International research has identified young men as reluctant to seek help for mental health problems. This research explored barriers and solutions to professional help seeking for mental health problems among young men living in the North West of Ireland. A qualitative approach, using two focus groups with six participants each and five face-to-face interviews, was conducted with men aged 18 to 24 years (total N = 17). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Seven key themes of barriers to professional help seeking were identified: “acceptance from peers,” “personal challenges,” “cultural and environmental influences,” “self-medicating with alcohol,” “perspectives around seeking professional help,” “fear of homophobic responses,” and “traditional masculine ideals.” Five key themes of solutions to these barriers included “tailored mental health advertising,” “integrating mental health into formal education,” “education through semiformal support services,” “accessible mental health care,” and “making new meaning.” Interesting findings on barriers include fear of psychiatric medication, fear of homophobic responses from professionals, the legacy of Catholic attitudes, and the genuine need for care. This study offers an in-depth exploration of how young men experience barriers and uniquely offers solutions identified by participants themselves. Youth work settings were identified as a resource for engaging young men in mental health work. Young men can be encouraged to seek help if services and professionals actively address barriers, combining advertising, services, and education, with particular attention and respect to how and when young men seek help and with whom they want to share their problems.

Alexithymia and help-seeking attitudes in college-aged students

“…Consistent with when they are young, men continue to be socialized to restrict their vulnerable emotions as they grow older. Lynch, Long, and Moorhead (2018) found that there is a lack of conversation with family and friends about mental health with this same age group which in turn leads to perceptions that mental health problems are socially undesirable. Additionally, inhibiting and regulating emotions when around others is a social norm for men and when a man does not follow these norms, they experience a threat to their manhood (Vandello & Bosson, 2013).…”

“…The older men are, the more positive attitudes they have towards seeking psychological help (Berger et al, 2005). Low mental health literacy, stigma, and not being able to physically see or touch what they are feeling are additional barriers to help seeking for men (Lynch et al, 2018). Contrastingly, the need for success, power, and competition does not seem to play a role in men's help-seeking attitudes (Good et al, 1989).…”

“…Additionally, cognitive approaches focus more on problem solving skills than other approaches, which is preferable to men, especially those who have high gender role conflict (Wisch et al, 1995). Recent research has reported that increasing mental health literacy and small group based programs may additionally encourage more men to seek help (Lynch et al, 2018).…”

Masculinity and Mental Health Treatment Initiation for Former Political Prisoners in Yangon, Myanmar – A Qualitative Investigation

“…In a recent systematic review of 29 trials of mental health treatments in LMICs, four focused specifically on men -largely ex-combatants -and five included 50% or more men in the sample (17). Extant literature from high-and low-income contexts, (18)(19)(20)(21)(22), including multiple trials (23)(24)(25)(26), have reported engaging and retaining men in psychotherapy. Some reported significant treatment effects only for women (25,27).…”

The impact of a Stress Control course delivered in partnership with a sports organisation on mental health outcomes in a general population

“…There is research evidence to suggest that those with stigmatising attitudes towards mental health problems are less likely to seek help for themselves (Cooper, 2003). Men may be less likely to seek help for mental health difficulties than women (Cleary, 2017;Lynch et al, 2016). In a study on male suicide, 74% of women with depression reported that they had spoken to someone about it; the figure for men was much lower at 53% [Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), 2015].…”