Seeking professional help for mental distress among men in Slovenia

Background

Despite the availability of effective treatments, many individuals with mental health difficulties do not seek professional help. Barriers are particularly pronounced among men, who seek help less frequently than women. This gap is concerning, as untreated conditions are associated with severe outcomes, including suicide, which disproportionately affects men globally and in Slovenia. This study aims to identify factors associated with help-seeking intentions for mental health concern among men in Slovenia to inform targeted and effective interventions.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was used, based on data from male respondents in the 2021 ZaPIS study (n = 1192). Help-seeking intentions were assessed using selected items from the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ) focusing on professional sources. Independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics, mental health literacy, and attitudes toward seeking professional help. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Age was a significant sociodemographic predictor, with higher help-seeking intentions in some older age groups (e.g., 30–34 years: OR = 2.92; 55–59 years: OR = 3.39). Higher education and subjective social status were not significant after adjustment. Mental health literacy was not an independent predictor, although weak positive trends were observed. Attitudes, particularly psychological openness (OR = 1.05, p = 0.002) and help-seeking propensity (OR = 1.19, p < 0.001), were the strongest predictors.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that men’s intentions to seek professional help are shaped primarily by their attitudes. These results highlight the need for public health strategies that strengthen psychological openness and help-seeking propensity, particularly among younger men. This may include developing targeted interventions and accessible support formats, such as online services, to improve engagement with professional help.

Key messages

• Public health strategies should prioritise strengthening psychological openness and help-seeking propensity to improve men’s engagement with mental health services.

• Targeted, accessible interventions, especially for younger men, are needed to address attitudinal barriers and increase timely use of professional mental health support.