Sagar-Ouriaghli I, Godfrey E, Bridge L, Meade L, Brown JSL. Improving Mental Health Service Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Behavior Change Techniques Within Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking.
Am J Mens Health 2020;
13:1557988319857009. [PMID:
31184251 PMCID:
PMC6560805 DOI:
10.1177/1557988319857009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared to women, men are less likely to seek help for mental health
difficulties. Despite considerable interest, a paucity in evidence-based
solutions remains to solve this problem.
The current review sought to synthesize the specific techniques within
male-specific interventions that may contribute to an improvement in
psychological help-seeking (attitudes, intentions, or behaviors). A systematic
review identified 6,598 potential articles from three databases (MEDLINE,
EMBASE, and PsycINFO). Nine studies were eligible. A meta-analysis was
problematic due to disparate interventions, outcomes, and populations. The
decision to use an innovative approach that adopted the Behavior Change
Technique (BCT) taxonomy to synthesize each intervention’s key features likely
to be responsible for improving help-seeking was made. Of the nine studies, four
were engagement strategies (i.e., brochures/documentaries), two randomized
controlled trials (RCTs), two pilot RCTs, and one retrospective review.
Regarding quality assessment, three were scored as “strong,” five as “moderate,”
and one as “weak.” Key processes that improved help-seeking attitudes,
intentions, or behaviors for men included using role models to convey
information, psychoeducational material to improve mental health knowledge,
assistance with recognizing and managing symptoms, active problem-solving tasks,
motivating behavior change, signposting services, and, finally, content that
built on positive male traits (e.g., responsibility and strength). This is the
first review to use this novel approach of using BCTs to summarize and identify
specific techniques that may contribute to an improvement in male help-seeking
interventions, whether engagement with treatment or the intervention itself.
Overall, this review summarizes previous male help-seeking interventions,
informing future research/clinical developments.
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