The challenges preventing men from seeking counselling or psychotherapy

Objective

Traditionally men have been reluctant to engage in counselling or psychotherapy at times of mental distress. Such reluctance may be partly explained through masculine socialisation and masculine hegemony theory. This scoping review aims to extract, review and summarize research recommendations to help researchers understand the main challenges preventing men when contemplating or seeking counselling or psychotherapy.

Methods

Six electronic databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, CINAHL, MEDLINE, SocINDEX and Google Scholar) were searched for articles published between 2002 and 2021. Of the 2,306 articles identified, 45 met the inclusion criteria. Forty articles used a qualitative methodology, whilst five studies employed mixed methods methodology.

Results

Analysis revealed three interconnected themes which contribute towards reluctance to engage with mental health services (a) masculine identity; (b) male behavioural norms; (c) psychological services and therapists.

Conclusion

We would recommend hegemonic men re-establish their links to male centric communities in order to counteract some of the barriers preventing access to psychological services. We envisage the establishment of local community-based networks of men who can share their lived experience, develop a language of help seeking and find new ways to experience their masculinity.