Men are often described as reluctant to seek help.
But this simple narrative can often disguise a more complex reality.
In this study we explored the barriers experienced by 725 men who had experienced suicidal thoughts and/or a suicide attempt within the previous year, asking what might stop them from accessing professional support.
The findings suggest that there is no single reason.
- Many men had already been for help and not found it useful.
- Other men wanted help but could not afford it.
- Some men worried about judgement, shame or burdening others.
- For others, the effects of suicidal distress itself – including exhaustion, low self-worth, mistrust and difficulty expressing emotion – made seeking help feel out of reach.
“I know how bad the NHS waiting lists for therapy are. My past therapy was private and I can’t afford that right now. So I’ll just muddle through and hope I make it.”
“My role as the one who helps others. Those close to me might feel themselves a burden, thus undoing the work I sacrificed my mental health for.”
“… I don’t know how to put my issues into words. I always feel ridiculous when trying to phrase it, it always appears shallow and misses the mark by miles…”
top 3 barriers
1. Help was too expensive
For some men, professional support was simply unaffordable. Others described being unable to access public services and unable to pay for private care.
2. Previous support had not helped
Some men had already sought help through therapy, medication, doctors or mental health services, but came away feeling that the support had been ineffective, dismissive or, in some cases, had made things worse. For these men, the barrier was not an unwillingness to seek help. They had already tried.
3. Professional help did not feel relevant to the problems men were facing
Some men questioned whether talking therapy or medication could address the things contributing to their suicidal distress – particularly when those problems involved money, work, relationships or other difficult life circumstances.
EXPLORE THE RESEARCH
WHy this work matters
Our findings challenge simple narratives about men and help-seeking.
Improving male suicide prevention cannot only be about encouraging men to speak up or ask for help.
We also need to look at the support available and ask whether it is accessible, acceptable, trustworthy and capable of responding to what men are actually experiencing.
The study identifies recommended areas for change across services, professional practice, public health messaging and future research.
Our recommendations include improving access to support, developing male-sensitive approaches, strengthening professional training, involving men with lived experience in service design, expanding community and peer support, and connecting psychological care with practical help for problems such as debt, housing and unemployment.
These findings are also informing our work to improve professional services for men in suicidal crisis.
The aim is not simply to persuade more men to seek help, but to make sure that when they do, there is help worth reaching for.
RESEARCH TEAM
- Dr Susie Bennett, University of Glasgow
- Professor Katie Robb, University of Glasgow
- Dr Tiago Zortea, University of Glasgow & Oxford
- Professor Rory O’Connor, University of Glasgow