Suicide bereavement in men: A qualitative study of barriers and enablers to seeking support

Suicide bereavement can have a substantial psychosocial burden on men. Therefore, formal services such as counseling and support groups may be particularly important for them. However, traditional masculine norms, such as expectations of self-reliance, may preclude help-seeking, and little is known about how suicide-bereaved men perceive and engage with such services. This qualitative study aimed to address this gap by exploring men's experiences of seeking help after suicide bereavement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 suicide-bereaved men in Australia. An inductive thematic analysis identified four main themes: (i) internal and gendered barriers to help-seeking, (ii) motivators for engagement with formal supports and services, (iii) access, affordability, and service navigation, and (iv) peer connection and lived experience. Participants called for ongoing offers of support, accessible entry points, and emphasized the value of active outreach and peer support. The findings indicate that appropriate support for this population is still in its infancy.