Citation

Sharp P, Zhu P, Ogrodniczuk JS, McKenzie SK, Seidler ZE, Rice SM, Oliffe JL. Health Promot. Int. 2024; 39(3): daae046.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/heapro/daae046

PMID

38770901

Abstract

Peer support has a long history of helping people navigate mental health challenges and is increasingly utilized within men's mental health promotion initiatives. Despite considerable research conceptualizing and evaluating peer support in various contexts, little is known about the gendered dimensions of men's peer support and mutual help for mental health. This article provides an empirically informed commentary on men's peer support and informal help-seeking preferences to make recommendations for future directions for research and practice. Research examining men's peer support is emergent and the available evidence suggests that there is potential to conceptually align with many men's values and preferences for mental health help-seeking. Peer support offers a non-clinical, strength-based adjunct to professional support that may aid men in navigating a range of mental health challenges. Consideration must be given to the influence of gender socialization and men's diverse experiences with developing and maintaining peer relationships. It should not be assumed that authentic and supportive relationships will naturally form when men congregate together. As a growing number of interventions and programs emerge targeted at boys and men, there are important opportunities to leverage these health promotion efforts to encourage and coach men to engage in mutual help. Opportunities for research and practice are discussed to better understand and harness the health-promoting potential of peer support for men's mental health.

Language: en

Keywords

*Health Promotion/methods; *Mental Health; *Peer Group; *Social Support; Humans; Male; masculinity; Men's Health; men’s health; mental health promotion; peer support; suicide prevention