Engaging men in the health system: observations from service providers

Abstract

Men's health is a significant public health issue in Australia. Increasingly, health indices show poor health outcomes for them. Literature suggests limitations in the health services dealing with their needs. If we are to improve boys' and men's health, we should look at the efficacy of these services and address their limitations. This study provides data from a survey about the types of services available for boys and men. The service provider respondents expressed major concerns MEN'S HEALTH ISSUES have been raised by health professionals and health care agencies in Australia. 1 Most epidemiological indicators suggest a markedly lower health status in men as compared with women in Australia. 2,3 Differences in the health of the population are influenced by existing features of the society in which they live. Stress, early life experiences, social inclusion/ exclusion, working conditions, social support are some of the determinants of health in contemporary societies. 4,5 The relative disadvantage in the life expectancy of men compared with women is greater in the unskilled/manual category than that of the professional group. 5 Large scale studies show that many men and adolescent boys are out of touch with the health care system, face barriers to effective utilisation of health care and use services less frequently. 6-10 The psycho-social forces in men' s lives and attitudinal factors are still obscure; how health services can be made more accessible and appropriate has not been widely explored. Service providers are at the forefront of locally delivered health services, yet there is a lack of data on their opinions about why boys and men do not seek them out. When the interaction of men and health services is more systematically explored, fresh insights can be gained into what barriers exist and what more appropriate service configuration might actually engage men with the health system. 11 Using aspects of action research, 12 this study attempted to investigate the perceptions and

Improving Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviours for Male Students: A Framework for Developing a Complex Intervention

“…Consequently, this reduces the opportunity to detect symptoms relating to mental health and facilitate the help-seeking process. To combat this, male friendly services, extended opening hours, and mental health workplace/university programmes may assist with encouraging male students to present to services or provide an increased opportunity for "invitations" and "grabs" [70,71].…”

“If We Want to Get Men in, Then We Need to Ask Men What They Want”: Pathways to Effective Health Programing for Men

“…Shortcomings in the resources and supports available to service providers are also noted in the literature as barriers to providing meaningful and effective services for men (Carroll et al, 2014;Coles et al, 2010;Heenan, 2004;Kirwan et al, 2013;Monaem et al, 2007;L. M. Robertson, Douglas, Ludbrook, Reid, & Van Teijingen, 2008;S.…”

“…While there are several other recent examples in Ireland of effective engagement with men (Richardson, 2013), there is little evidence available that demonstrates "how" this work can be done, which has resulted in a dearth of supports or resources for prospective men's health service providers. As such, there are calls within the wider literature for an investigation into the "active ingredients" that make health programs or interventions acceptable and accessible to men (Galdas et al, 2014, p. 20;Monaem et al, 2007). Thus, this study aimed to answer the question: What strategies or mechanisms contribute to meaningful program/service development and delivery for men.…”

“…Commonly, men report: not being trusted or believed by service providers, not being able to find personalized care, not feeling cared for or listened to by service providers, and not finding male-friendly services (such as workplace initiatives or outreach programs in community or sport settings), which commonly encompass a more personalized approach (Carroll et al, 2014;Institute of Public Health in Ireland, 2011;Monaem et al, 2007). Shortcomings in the resources and supports available to service providers are also noted in the literature as barriers to providing meaningful and effective services for men (Carroll et al, 2014;Coles et al, 2010;Heenan, 2004;Kirwan et al, 2013;Monaem et al, 2007;L.…”

“…Shortcomings in available services are, in part, linked to limited knowledge of men's health issues, and to a lack of understanding of the kind of approaches or strategies that might make services more accessible and appropriate for men (Institute of Public Health in Ireland, 2011;Monaem et al, 2007). This inconsistent skill and experience among services and service providers is often linked to men either being unable to find appropriate services or of having negative experiences of services if they do (Carroll et al, 2014;Institute of Public Health in Ireland, 2011;Monaem et al, 2007).…”