Clinical psychologist, Dr Zac Seidler, believes mental services are not meeting the needs of men.
A new , supported by men’s health charity Movember, found almost half of those who accessed therapy - or 44 per cent - dropped out prematurely.
The study, published in the American Journal of Men’s Health, also revealed more than a quarter of men accessed therapy once and did not return.
The most common reason that men ditched therapy was “a lack of connection with a clinician,” according to the study.
Dr Seidler, Director of Mental Health Training at Movember and an author of the study, said it shows that mental health services are failing some men.
“There are these really unique opportunities to connect with guys, to reach out to them, to hold them within a service. And we're missing those opportunities,” said Dr Seidler.
“These guys are often slipping through the cracks prematurely, and not coming back due to, you know, dissatisfaction, or belief that this thing can't help.”
In the study, men spoke about feeling unheard, uncomfortable or distant to clinicians.
Dr Seidler said while the number of men seeking psychological help has increased year on year, traditionally men haven’t been “consumers of mental health services.”
As a result, the systems are often created or advertised “with women in mind”, he said.
Dr Seidler told The Feed waiting rooms are often filled with women’s magazines and that therapy services frequently use feminine branding to advertise their business.
“What does this say to all of the men who are sitting there going, ‘Alright, this is not for me’? This is not where I'm supposed to be,” Dr Seidler said.
“These men are doing everything, right, they are pushing through whatever societal stigma exists... their own self-doubt, and their desire to be self-reliant,” he said.
“They get in there, and then they find that they're really not connecting.”
In a statement to The Feed, President of the Australian Psychological Society, Tamara Cavenett, said she is alarmed at the dropout rate of men in mental health services.
"Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women," Ms Cavenett said.
“We know that when people drop out of therapy, particularly in the early stages, they are often unlikely or reluctant to return for further treatment. However, their mental health issues are likely to persist," she added.
“As a psychologist, I would ask people to persist by either seeking out another psychologist or even raising the issue for discussion.”
Ms Cavenett encouraged people to arrange an over-the-phone interview with a psychologist before booking an appointment “to get a sense of who they are and how you feel talking to them.”
“It’s worth asking about their professional experience, methods, and how they might approach the sort of issues you’re experiencing,” she said.
A spokesperson at the Department of Health told The Feed “the mental health of all Australians is a key priority for the Government.”
Through the 2021-22 Budget, the Government is investing $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, the spokesperson said.
This builds on the estimated $5.8 billion in 2020-21, taking the total estimated health portfolio investment in mental health and suicide prevention services to $6.5 billion.
“The issue of health services and their appropriateness and effectiveness in meeting the needs of Australian men was highlighted in the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2030,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the Government is committed to addressing the over-representation of men dropping out of therapy sessions.
He added the Government recognises opportunities exist to reach men in alternative settings such as Men’s Sheds, which receive government funding.
“The Government has committed $2 million to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of Better Access to consider issues that affect access to treatment and patient outcomes,” the spokesperson said.
“The evaluation findings, along with the recommendations of the Productivity Commission and the MBS Review Taskforce will be key in shaping future arrangements under Better Access.”
Dr Seidler believes the mental health sector needs to “warm up to what men need.”
“I used to have a pool table in my therapy office because that kind of clinical, really cold environment does not work for guys,” he said.
“It doesn't need to be the same stereotypical therapy that you see on TV, we can do things differently.”
“They just need you to be a receptive empathic person who understands where they're at.”
Men’s kicks off today, which aims to increase awareness of male health issues on a global level.
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, please call police and ambulance on 000.
For further help, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
