Barriers to the use of mental health services amongst men in Nigeria and the potential of digital mental health support

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective Mental health problems are increasing. Nonetheless, the uptake of professional mental health support remains very low in Nigeria and other African countries, especially among men. This study explored the potential of digital mental health support in eliminating barriers to professional mental health services amongst men in Nigeria.Method Qualitative data were collected between July-August 2022 using an In-depth Interview (IDI) Guide with 24 men aged 18–38. NVivo 12 was employed to assist with the analysis.Results Digital mental health support has the potential to improve acceptance and uptake of professional mental health support services, reduce deterrent factors such as stigma, issues with confidentiality and trust, cost and availability. The use of digital support may also mitigate the nature of masculinity which deters some men from asking for help. Regulations around providing mental health support may improve men’s confidence in seeking professional mental health support.Conclusion Findings highlight the acceptability of digital mental health support for men, and the need for clinical practice regulations.KEYWORDS: Digital mental health supportmenNigeriaqualitative research Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).