A theory-based examination of the predictors of mental health help-seeking in young men

ObjectiveThe present research seeks to understand young men's willingness to engage in both informal (social) and formal (professional) mental health support using the lens of the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM).MethodThe main study (N = 171) examined the constructs of attitude (positive or negative appraisal of the target behaviour), subjective norm (perceived social influence related to behavioural performance), prototype similarity (degree to which the individual feels similar to the typical person who perform the behaviour) and prototype favourability (degree to which the individual identifies the typical performer as being favourable), in addition to self-stigma and emotional expressivity. Hierarchical multiple regressions assessed these constructs in predicting young men's willingness to engage in mental health support.ResultsResults indicated attitudes, prototype similarity, self-stigma and emotional expressivity explained a significant proportion of variance for willingness to engage in both informal support and formal help-seeking. Self-stigma was significantly associated with formal help-seeking, while emotional expressivity was significantly associated with informal and formal help-seeking.ConclusionsThe current research supports the value of the PWM in understanding males' mental health help-seeking behaviour. The study enhances awareness of key factors which may inform young men's willingness to engage in support services for their mental health. What is already known about this topic:The engagement of young men with therapeutic services has been broadly attributed to internal attitudes held towards mental health help-seeking.The conflict between a masculine identity of being independent and emotionally stoic and the openness, trust, and emotional expressiveness needed to be open to seeking mental health help is a potential barrier to mental health help seeking among young men.Men are more likely to seek support for problems which can be attributed to an external cause rather than internal difficulties. Hence, self-stigma may act as a barrier to mental health help seeking for young men.What this topic adds:The application of an established decision-making model, the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM), was useful in the prediction of engagement with both formal and informal mental health help seeking among young men.The addition of self-stigma and emotional expressivity to the PWM contributed to the predictions of engagement in formal support stemming from an external cause and internal feeling states.Consistent with previous research, young men appear to have more difficulty in seeking help as a result of internal phenomenon. With the increase in people's experience of mental health distress, the current research provides greater understanding of what factors underlie young men's willingness to seek mental health support.