Barriers to help-seeking in men with mental health issues: a systematised literature review

Mental health issues in men are a rapidly increasing global concern, especially considering men’s reluctance to use mental health services. Men appear to be less likely than women to seek professional mental health support. This article reports the findings of a literature review that explored the barriers to formal help-seeking in adult men experiencing mental health issues. Seven studies were included in the review and thematic data analysis produced the following themes: structural factors (cost and accessibility); fear of stigmatisation and traditional views of masculinity; lack of health literacy; and attitudinal factors (reluctance to talk about emotions, negative views of mental health services). Attention to building trust and effective therapeutic relationships focused on the needs of male service users could help to increase their use of professional support services and therefore prevent poor long-term health outcomes.