Perspectives on Eliminating Barriers and Fostering Solutions to Men’s Participation and Engagement in Mental Health Services
Perspectives on Eliminating Barriers and Fostering Solutions to Men’s Participation and Engagement in Mental Health Services

Summary/Abstract: Research and clinical experience have consistently shown that men underutilize mental health services compared to women, and men’s understanding and expression of psychological symptoms may differ qualitatively from those of women. Such differences are mainly attributed to the gender socialization process, where manhood is associated with the endorsement of values such as self-reliance and emotional control that are incompatible with the social representations of psychological help-seeking. However, recent theoretical and empirical discussions have begun to focus on constructions of healthy masculinities in personal and public spaces to target the diverse needs of men in mental health service delivery. Such approaches underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach focusing not only on eliminating constraints but also on developing solutions to motivate men to initiate and benefit from psychological treatments. Thus, the current review aimed to address the psychosocial and structural factors that prevent men from seeking and engaging in psychological treatments. The secondary goal was to suggest improvements to men’s participation in mental health services by using a gender-informed perspective, synthesizing literature findings and theoretical discussions about men’s perspectives and use of mental health services.

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