The research

Summary

A Movember Institute report on Australian fathers, exploring how men experience health, identity and parenthood — and what fatherhood means for the way men engage with their own health and wellbeing.

Summary

A Men's Health Forum (UK) report making the case for community pharmacy's largely untapped potential to reach men where they already are and improve men's health outcomes.

Summary

Australia's whole-of-government National Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2025–2035, setting the national direction for a comprehensive, compassionate and evidence-based approach to reducing suicide over the coming decade.

Abstract

There is growing consensus for upskilling the health care workforce on gender-responsive strategies to more effectively connect and respond to men during health care encounters. To inform health practitioner education, the primary aim of this study was to gain insights from a diverse sample of men in Australia on their experiences and expectations when engaging with health care practitioners. Thirty-two men (18–70 years, median 33) participated in eight online focus group discussions. A combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to reconcile their expectations with prior published approaches for practitioners to engage men in care and identify new themes. Participants desired a genuine relationship, signaled by upfront and informal communication, active listening, and enquiry. In structuring treatment, participants sought transparency and respect for autonomy. Regarding the therapeutic alliance, avoiding gender stereotyping and empathetic, sensitive, and holistic care were valued by men. Participant insights were synthesized into four outcomes, for men, of successful engagement: legitimize the relationship to build trust, create a safe space to facilitate disclosure, empower men, and assess and treat the whole man through a biopsychosocial lens. In conclusion, men seek authentic connection and a caring style that allows them to legitimize and forge an ongoing relationship with their practitioner.

About this study

An analysis of young men's anxiety-related presentations to Australian ambulance services — examining the acute end of young men's anxiety and what it reveals about gaps in earlier, community-based care.

Abstract

E-learning is a common mode of professional development for mental health practitioners. However, program outcomes are rarely studied beyond 3-month follow-up, and limited research has examined barriers and facilitators to the implementation of e-learning in mental health practitioners. This gap is pronounced when considering programs aiming to upskill practitioners to engage and respond to help-seeking men. The current study examined the self-efficacy and learning implementation among practitioners one year following the completion of an e-learning program (Men in Mind) focused on strategies for engaging male clients in psychotherapy. A cross-sectional follow-up survey including open response items was administered to 117 practitioners (70.9% female; mean age 44.6 years) sampled from a prior RCT evaluating primary outcomes of Men in Mind. Quantitative results indicated closely comparable average self-efficacy for the current sample one year following the completion of the RCT, relative to the separate but overlapping sample of RCT participants at 3-months post-training. In particular, most practitioners reported confidence to engage suicidal men at 1-year follow-up (77.8% compared to 76.5% at 3-month follow-up). Qualitative findings provided insight into how Men in Mind informed practitioners' confidence and capacity to leverage masculinity for engagement, alongside their perceptions of the impact of these changes on their male clients. Results suggest the potential maintenance of self-efficacy gains one year following completion of Men in Mind.

Summary

The Movember Institute's flagship Australian report on the state of men's health, drawing on a representative survey of Australian men to map how they experience health, help-seeking and the health system — including the finding that 67% of men had felt like leaving, or had left, a practitioner due to a lack of personal connection.

Abstract

Gender-responsive healthcare is critical to advancing men's health given that masculinities intersect with other social determinants to impact help-seeking, engagement with primary healthcare, and patient outcomes. A scoping review was undertaken with the aim to synthesize gender-responsive approaches used by healthcare providers (HCPs) to engage men with primary healthcare. MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published between 2000 and February 2024. Titles and abstracts for 15,659 citations were reviewed, and 97 articles met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-three approaches were synthesized from across counseling/psychology, general practice, social work, nursing, psychiatry, pharmacy, and unspecified primary healthcare settings. These were organized into three interrelated themes: (a) tailoring communication to reach men; (b) purposefully structuring treatment to meet men's health needs; and (c) centering the therapeutic alliance to retain men in care. Strength-based and asset-building approaches focused on reading and responding to a diversity of masculinities were reinforced across the three findings. While these approaches are recommended for judicious integration into health practitioner education and practice, this review highlighted that the evidence remains underdeveloped, particularly for men who experience health inequities.

Abstract

Improved engagement of men in psychotherapy is an essential element in improving male health outcomes. This trial examined whether the Men in Mind intervention improved practitioners' self-rated clinical competencies to engage and respond to male clients in therapy. A parallel, single-blind, waitlist randomized controlled trial was conducted with Australian-based mental health practitioners currently administering psychotherapy to males. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to either the intervention (Men in Mind) or waitlist control. Men in Mind was offered as a self-led 6-week, 5-module online program. The primary outcome was self-reported competency in engaging men in psychotherapy, measured by the Engaging Men in Therapy Scale (EMITS) at 6 weeks. Between Jan 16 and March 17 2022, 587 participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=300) or waitlist control (n=287). In total, 492 (84%) participants completed the primary endpoint assessment at 6 weeks. Men in Mind demonstrated a large effect of improved EMITS scores compared to the control group (d=2.63, 95% CI [2.39, 2.87], p<.001). Men in Mind was effective at increasing mental health practitioners' self-reported efficacy to work with men, potentially a key change mechanism in their ability to improve health outcomes for male clients.

About this study

A qualitative study exploring how young men experience, make sense of, and respond to anxiety — moving through resisting, reckoning with, and responding to anxious distress — with implications for how services reach and engage young men early.

Abstract

Although the proportion of men seeking professional mental health care has risen over the past two decades, on average men continue to attend fewer sessions of psychotherapy and are more likely to drop out of treatment prematurely compared to women. Men account for three-quarters of suicide deaths; over half of the males who die by suicide have engaged with mental health care in the 12 months prior to their death. These findings highlight a need to equip mental health practitioners with skills to improve male clients' engagement and mental health outcomes. This article reports the protocol for a randomized controlled trial of Men in Mind, a self-paced online training program purpose-built to advance the clinical competencies of practitioners who provide psychotherapy to male clients. A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups will be conducted, with practitioners randomly allocated 1:1 to the intervention group (Men in Mind training) or a waitlist control group. The primary outcome, efficacy of the training, will be evaluated by pre- to post-training changes in scores on the Engaging Men in Therapy Scale (EMITS).

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and potential efficacy of an online, 8-hr mental health practitioner training program, Men in Mind. To this end, 196 Australian-based mental health practitioners (72.1% female; Mage = 44.98 years, SDage = 11.75 years) completed a baseline survey and were provided access to Men in Mind. The program demonstrated acceptability, feasibility, and potential efficacy, with significantly improved pre–post scores on the Engaging Men in Therapy Scale (EMITS; p < .001; Δ = 2.04). Among completers, 89.9% (n = 142) demonstrated reliable change on the EMITS. Results of this pilot study indicated Men in Mind may be an important resource for upskilling mental health practitioners in the psychology of men and masculinities.

About this study

An integrative review of the evidence on men's help-seeking and engagement with general practice, synthesising the barriers and enablers that shape whether men connect with, and stay engaged in, primary care.

Summary

An evidence synthesis prepared for the Australian Government reviewing the barriers men and boys face in accessing the health system, and what the literature suggests about how to improve their access and engagement.

Abstract

This study describes barriers to accessing mental health services among men currently experiencing a mental health concern. Mental health help-seeking survey data from 778 male respondents who self-reported experiencing a mental health concern were analysed. Of these men, 65% (n = 513) wanted treatment and 35% (n = 265) did not want treatment. The most frequently endorsed barriers to mental health treatment were believing that a lot of people feel sad and down (80%; n = 620), not knowing what to look for in a psychotherapist (80%; n = 618) and needing to solve one's own problems (73%; n = 569). Compared with men who wanted help, those who did not want help were significantly more likely to be unsure if psychotherapy really works, not tell their physician if they were feeling down, and prefer to solve their own problems. The high endorsement of both structural and attitudinal barriers suggests that service delivery must adapt to better respond to dominant masculine ideals while also improving men's ease of access into a transparent treatment process.

Abstract

Abstract unavailable — read the full article at the publisher.

Abstract

Men can be reluctant to disclose distress and many have ambivalence toward seeking help for depression, leading to poor uptake of and engagement in psychotherapy. The present study sought to explore whether a previously dissatisfying therapy experience leads to greater doubts about the effectiveness of treatment, in turn impacting on a man's willingness to disclose distress in future. An online survey of 133 Canadian men investigated their current depressive symptoms, previous experience of and belief in the effectiveness of psychotherapy, and likelihood of disclosing distress to their physician. The regression model highlighted a significant negative association between satisfaction with previous therapy and doubt about the effectiveness of therapy. There was also a significant indirect effect, such that doubt about the effectiveness of therapy mediated the association between previous satisfaction and willingness to disclose distress to a physician. Providing treatment for depression that men find engaging and satisfying may improve their confidence that psychotherapy can help, make them more likely to reach out in the future, and benefit their long-term mental health outcomes.

About this study

A qualitative study with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males exploring the complex nexus between masculinities, culture and health literacy — and what it means for policy and practice aiming to improve young men's health.

Abstract

Men present with complex, diverse and often contradictory expressions of masculinity that are relevant to their health status. This article argues for the inclusion of masculinity into mental health curricula in Australia. Masculinity mediates health outcomes by influencing help-seeking and engagement with treatment. An online curricula audit of publicly available information from Australian medical programs and their professional bodies reveals increasing awareness of the needs, but limited practical inclusion of masculinity models in training and practice. Described are the elements essential to training and subsequent clinical practice to curb the poor mental health outcomes of Australian men.

Abstract

Tailoring psychological treatments to men's specific needs has long been a concern considering that many men are reluctant to seek or engage with professional help. The present study aimed to seek consensus via an expert panel regarding essential aspects to include in practitioner training programs for those working with men experiencing depression. A 2-round Delphi study was conducted to gain consensus among practitioners, researchers, and educators about the importance of 30 potential training program components across 6 domains: masculinity frameworks; impact of gender on clinical practice; depression in men; assessment and formulation; male-specific adaptations to treatment; and language and communication. The panel comprised 53 multidisciplinary international experts. After 2 Delphi rounds, consensus was reached for 22 of 30 items, with a further 2 approaching consensus. Items related to suicidality and depression diagnosis received the highest consensus. This study provides a set of consensus-based recommendations for practitioner training.

Abstract

It is well understood that men are reticent in seeking help for mental health concerns. In the wake of government-funded campaigns across many Western nations that have sought to address this, noticeably absent have been the active development, promotion, dissemination, and rigorous evaluation of male-centered treatment styles. We argue that next-generation approaches must actively counteract unhelpful stereotypes, instead promoting diverse and healthy masculinities. The current article makes the case for the development of a masculinities model of mental health care, offering recommendations to advance clinical practice and research toward this goal. We propose that updated help-seeking campaigns and clinician training, gender-sensitive service provision, and comprehensive cost analyses will provide the groundwork for such a model to better target the diversity in men and reduce reluctance to engage with mental health treatment.

Abstract

Tailoring psychological treatments to men's specific needs has been a topic of concern for decades given evidence that many men are reticent to seek professional health care. However, existing literature providing clinical recommendations for engaging men in psychological treatments is diffuse. The aim of this scoping review was to provide a comprehensive summary of recommendations for how to engage men in psychological treatment. Four electronic databases were searched for articles published between 2000 and 2017. Of 3,627 citations identified, 46 met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate providing male-appropriate psychological treatment requires clinicians to consider the impact of masculine socialization on their client and themselves, and how gender norms may impact clinical engagement and outcomes. Existing literature also emphasized specific process micro-skills (e.g., self-disclosure, normalizing), language adaption (e.g., male-oriented metaphors) and treatment styles most engaging for men (e.g., collaborative, transparent, action-oriented, goal-focused). Our review suggests more empirically informed tailored interventions are needed, along with formal program evaluations to advance the evidence base.

Abstract

While the prevalence of major depressive disorder continues to rise, many men are reticent to seek and sustain psychotherapy. The current study explored Australian men's experiences with treatment for depression with a view to guiding recommendations for improving treatment engagement. Twenty men (23–64 years) who had received psychotherapy for depressive symptoms in the past 3 years took part in individual, semi-structured interviews. Findings suggested men's preference for a transparent orientation to treatment, including the provision of a clear structure for therapy — focusing on individualised goals and expected progress, establishment of trust, and a sharing of decisional control. Providing an action-oriented functional treatment with targeted skills attainment was recommended as most engaging. The focus on "doing" in treatment, as distinct from pure talk therapy, engendered feelings of strength and empowerment in the men. Most participants, however, did not receive a treatment style that properly engaged them, and articulated clear recommendations for changes needed.

About this study

A systematic review of the factors that shape Indigenous men's use of primary health care services, identifying what helps and hinders engagement and where services can better meet Indigenous men's needs.

Abstract

Conformity to traditional masculine gender norms may deter men's help-seeking and/or impact the services men engage. Despite proliferating research, current evidence has not been evaluated systematically. This review summarises findings related to the role of masculinity on men's help-seeking for depression. Six electronic databases were searched using terms related to masculinity, depression and help-seeking. Of 1927 citations identified, 37 met inclusion criteria. Findings suggest conformity to traditional masculine norms has a threefold effect on men experiencing depression, impacting: (i) their symptoms and expression of symptoms; (ii) their attitudes to, intention, and actual help-seeking behaviour; and (iii) their symptom management. Results demonstrate the problematic impact of conformity to traditional masculine norms on the way men experience and seek help for depression. Tailoring and targeting clinical interventions may increase men's service uptake and the efficacy of treatments.