Masculinity and Help-Seeking Among Men With Depression: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Sociology of Health
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Men's reluctance to seek mental health support is linked to traditional masculinity.
• Limited understanding exists regarding men's diverse experiences with depression help-seeking and service utilization.
• This study addresses the gap by exploring men's perspectives to inform gender-sensitive mental health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore men's experiences and attitudes regarding depression, help-seeking, and mental health service use.
• To identify factors influencing men's engagement with mental health services.
• To inform the development of gender-sensitive interventions for men with depression.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving narrative-biographical interviews with 12 men treated for depression.
• Interviews covered personal experiences with depression, help-seeking behaviors, and mental health service use.
• Data analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Main Results:

• Internalized masculine norms initially hindered men's help-seeking behavior.
• Service use led to a shift in attitudes, with men adopting a salutogenic perspective and critically examining masculine norms.
• Men-only groups were identified as vital for successful engagement and service utilization.

Conclusions:

• Men's help-seeking and service use are influenced by their attitudes toward depression, societal perceptions, family context, and experiences with services.
• Interventions should target the stigma of "unmanliness" and enhance coping mechanisms for work-related challenges.
• Peer-led men-only groups can boost self-esteem and disclosure; training health professionals on masculinity's impact is recommended.