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Who Influence Men to Go to Therapy? Reports from Men Attending Psychological Services

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Abstract

The degree to which men's current or most recent access to professional psychological help was influenced by others, and their future independent help-seeking intentions were measured. Seventy-three males currently accessing, or who had recently accessed a mental health service, completed a questionnaire that asked about their pathway to care and future help-seeking intentions. Ninety-six percent of participants reported their decision to seek help was influenced to some degree by others, with G.P's, and intimate partners most influential. Thirty-seven percent indicated that without this influence, they would not have sought help at all. Once in therapy, treatment helpfulness was a significant predictor of future help-seeking intentions for a personal-emotional problem or suicidal thoughts, irrespective of the pathway to care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

    Jason Cusack (Doctor of Psychology)

  2. Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

    Frank P. Deane (Professor)

  3. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

    Coralie J. Wilson (Doctoral candidate)

  4. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

    Joseph Ciarrochi (Lecturer)

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  1. Jason Cusack
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  2. Frank P. Deane
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  3. Coralie J. Wilson
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  4. Joseph Ciarrochi
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Cusack, J., Deane, F.P., Wilson, C.J. et al. Who Influence Men to Go to Therapy? Reports from Men Attending Psychological Services. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 26, 271–283 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ADCO.0000035530.44111.a8

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