Men’s Dropout From Mental Health Services

Results From a Survey of Australian Men Across the Life Span

Bibliographic Data

ID21748828
AuthorsZac E Seidler (0000-0002-6854-1554, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author), M J Wilson (0000-0001-8983-0067, The University of Melbourne), David Kealy (0000-0002-3679-6085, University of British Columbia), John L Oliffe (0000-0001-9029-4003, University of British Columbia), John S Ogrodniczuk (0000-0002-3531-9033, University of British Columbia), Simon Rice (0000-0003-4045-8553, The University of Melbourne)
Year2021
Volume15
Issue3
Pages15579883211014776-15579883211014776
Publication date2021-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Men s Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1557-9883 • E-ISSN: 1557-9891
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/15579883211014776
PMID34041980
OpenAlexW3165813997
LanguageEN
Citations received26
References cited57

While increasing numbers of Australian men are accessing mental health services, the sustainability of their therapy engagement varies significantly, with many men being lost to follow-up. The current study investigated dropout rates in a large community-based male sample to highlight the reasons for, and potential predictors of, men dropping out of mental health care services. Data were drawn from an online survey of 1907 Australian men (aged 16–85; M = 44.1 years) reflecting on their broad experiences in mental health therapy. Participants responded to bespoke items assessing their past dropout experience and reasons for dropping out, the odds of which were modeled in relation to demographics and predictors (e.g., therapist engagement strategies, alignment to traditional masculinity and pre-therapy feelings of optimism, shame, and emasculation). The overall dropout rate from therapy was 44.8% ( n = 855), of which 26.6% ( n = 120) accessed therapy once and did not return. The most common reasons for dropout were lack of connection with the therapist (54.9%) and the sense that therapy lacked progress (20.2%). Younger age, unemployment, self-reported identification with traditional masculinity, the presence of specific therapist engagement strategies, and whether therapy made participants feel emasculated all predicted dropout. Current depressive symptoms and suicidality were also higher amongst dropouts. Therapists should aim to have an honest discussion with all clients about the importance of therapy fit, including the real likelihood of dropout, in order to ensure this does not deter future engagement with professional services

Logistic regression · Masculinity · Mental health · Odds · Psychiatry · Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Medicine · Psychology

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