Problems experienced by young men and attitudes to help-seeking in a rural Irish community

Suicide is now the commonest cause of death among young Irish males. The literature identifies a wide range of contributory risk factors in suicide. However, a number of realities have frustrated clinicians' efforts in the area, including the reluctance of young males to engage in mental health services. In this study, we sought to explore the problems experienced by young men in a rural setting and their attitudes towards seeking help.

Focus groups were employed to generate themes for a qualitative and quantitative questionnaire which was administered to a community sample of 71 young men (22.4% of the total number of males aged 16-30 years in the area) and 79 key informants. The questionnaires contained demographic items and examined available social outlets, types and extent of difficulties experienced by young men and perceptions of and access to potential sources of support.

Both young men and key informants reported that peer pressure and alcohol misuse are areas of most difficulty, that friends and family are the preferred sources of support and that young men view much existing professional help as unacceptable.

This study provides a basis for the next stage in the research cycle and also supports the viability of building a partnership between the health services and the local community in developing future suicide prevention strategies for young men.