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Do men between the ages of 18-65 years of age with depression experience difficulty accessing mental health services and support? [v1.0]

dc.contributor.authorNational Health Library & Knowledge Service (NHLKS)
dc.contributor.authorDelaunois, Isabelle
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, Margaret
dc.contributor.authorLeen, Brendan
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-13T09:05:45Z
dc.date.available2021-05-13T09:05:45Z
dc.date.issued2021-05-13
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10147/629380
dc.descriptionSummary of Evidence Conformity with preconceived notions of masculinity is identified by numerous studies as a barrier that prevent men from help-seeking and service utilization. According to these dominant preconceptions, masculinity is seen as being stoic, strong, stubborn and self-reliant; on the other hand, seeking help is perceived as showing weakness .Experiences of self-stigma and gender role conflict act as barriers to men’s psychological help seeking; violation of masculine norms and the desire to preserve masculinity reduce men’s help-seeking behaviors. Cole et al8 assert that gender role conflict plays an incremental role beyond mental health self-stigma in understanding certain types of responses to mental health needs; that there is a positive relationship between experiencing gender role conflict and holding increasingly self-stigmatizing views; and that gender role conflict corresponds with increased avoidant behaviors and decreased social support utilization. Athanasiadas et al describe how depressed men are often involved in attempts to self-manage their depressive symptoms. This stoic approach compromises the well-being of depressed men and it discourages them from accessing appropriate support resources. The concept of stigma including self-stigma and social stigma is cited in the literature as one of the barriers preventing men accessing mental health services, especially for depression. Societal negative perceptions and lack of knowledge about mental health issues can result in an individual experiencing self-stigma. The issues around stigma especially relating to help-seeking for depression are discussed in several studies .Wahto et al state that higher levels of gender-role conflict, social stigma and self-stigma are associated with more negative attitudes toward psychological help seeking. Ina recent Irish study, O’Donnell et al2 point to men’s sense of shame in having to ask for help and “failing” to manage their own problems. House et al suggest that improving public knowledge about the nature of depression; positive messages about the act of help‐seeking, types of treatment available, and effectiveness of treatments; and work to overcome the challenges posed by long waiting times and other service constraints may increase rates of help‐seeking. Structural barriers seem to be less predictive of help-seeking than attitudinal barriers . In particular, lower likelihood of help-seeking was associated with men's reluctance to disclose mood-related symptoms to their physician/family doctor, a tendency for selfreliance and solving one's own problems, and uncertainly about the process of psychotherapy. Seidler et al identified cost as a main structural barrier among 778 male survey respondents. Other barriers reported in the literature included lack of knowledge about mental health issues and/or available treatment . The literature reviews the importance of customising and tailoring mental health interventions for men to reflect the important roles that masculinity and stigma play in men accessing support . Bilsker et al6 note that a high proportion of men in Western society have acquired psychological coping strategies that are often dysfunctional. There is a need for men to learn more adaptive coping approaches long before they reach a crisis point. Recommendations are made to address men’s mental health through: healthcare policy that facilitates access; research on tailoring interventions to men; population-level initiatives to improve the capacity of men to cope with psychological distress; and clinical practice that is sensitive to the expression of mental health problems in men and that responds in a relevant manner. Oliffe et al state that the reticence of some men inseeking professional mental health care has drawn public awareness raising and de-stigmatizing efforts, while clinical guidelines for working with boys and men have been offered to better serve men seeking help for depression and/or suicidality. There is a strengthening case for male depression comprising specific externalizing symptomology, and these findings, along with high male suicide rates (including men who are seemingly in care), indicate the need for tailored approaches to men's depression and suicide prevention. Stiawa et al suggest that in order to improve mental health among men, gender-specific services should be offered. Cramer et al note the key role that general practitioners may play in helping men to acknowledge their experiences of depression and anxiety, listening and providing information on the range of support options, including groups.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherHealth Service Executiveen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesQuestion 170en_US
dc.subjectMENTAL DISORDERSen_US
dc.subjectMENTAL HEALTH SERVICESen_US
dc.subjectMEN'S HEALTHen_US
dc.subjectDEPRESSIONen_US
dc.subjectSUICIDEen_US
dc.subjectSTIGMAen_US
dc.titleDo men between the ages of 18-65 years of age with depression experience difficulty accessing mental health services and support? [v1.0]en_US
dc.typeOtheren_US
dc.contributor.departmentNational Health Library & Information Serviceen_US
refterms.dateFOA2021-05-13T09:05:46Z


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