Male-friendly counselling for young men: a thematic analysis of client and caregiver experiences of Menslink counselling
Creators: name: Boerma, Micah
name: Beel, Nathan
name: Neill, James T.
name: Jeffries, Carla
name: Krishnamoorthy, Govind
name: Guerri-Guttenberg, Jonathan
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: Across the lifespan, young males in Australia who are experiencing mental health problems report the lowest rates of seeking professional care. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of young men and caregivers who received male-friendly counselling from a male-specific service in Australia Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 young men who had received counselling, and 27 caregivers who facilitated access to Menslink counselling in Canberra, Australia. Inductive thematic analysis was completed to analyse the data Four themes were developed: (1) engaged out of desperation; (2) appeal of Menslink service; (3) counsellor more like a professional “friend”; and (4) counsellor prioritised my autonomy The findings confirm the suitability of previously recommended adaptations to counselling to engage young men and emphasise the role of caregivers in facilitating access to support. The themes also provide direction for practical adjustments to service delivery that mental health services and clinicians can make to address personal and structural barriers impacting young men’s service contact and engagement. This study contributes to the growing literature examining the benefits of male-friendly counselling practices in psychological treatment for young men. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>Adolescent and young men face personal and structural barriers to help-seeking despite experiencing significant rates of mental illness in Australia.In recent years, male-friendly adaptations to clinical practice have been proposed to engage young men in psychotherapy.Little is known about how both young men and caregivers who facilitate access experience male-friendly counselling. Adolescent and young men face personal and structural barriers to help-seeking despite experiencing significant rates of mental illness in Australia. In recent years, male-friendly adaptations to clinical practice have been proposed to engage young men in psychotherapy. Little is known about how both young men and caregivers who facilitate access experience male-friendly counselling. <b>What this topic adds:</b>Male-friendly adaptations akin to those proposed in the literature enriched the counselling experience of young men and their caregivers.Young men valued a counselling service dedicated to them which consequently reduced the stigma associated with seeking support.Low-cost and timely services, the availability of male clinicians, and clinicians who supported the autonomy of young men were salient facilitators to their service engagement. Male-friendly adaptations akin to those proposed in the literature enriched the counselling experience of young men and their caregivers. Young men valued a counselling service dedicated to them which consequently reduced the stigma associated with seeking support. Low-cost and timely services, the availability of male clinicians, and clinicians who supported the autonomy of young men were salient facilitators to their service engagement.