What do men gain from listening to men’s mental health podcasts?

Abstract

Background: Although men are more likely to die by suicide than women, they are less likely to seek help when feeling suicidal. Masculine socialisation leaves men feeling stigmatised for their mental health problems. Researchers consider podcasts an efficient way to promote health information and offer social support to individuals who are unable to access services. Methods: Nine listeners to a UK based mental health podcast series were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Participants discussed their reflections of twelve podcast episodes and what they gained from listening. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five interconnected themes were identified which described listener’s reflections: understanding other men’s lived experiences; facilitating male intimacy; combating male isolation; learning how to seek help and reflecting on a culture of positive masculinity. Conclusions: Reflecting on experiences through the medium of mental health podcasts may be a way for men to both initiate new ways of help seeking and challenge their own masculine socialised attitudes. The podcasts promote more inclusive, flexible versions of masculinity which encourage reflection on an individual’s lived experience. Recommendations on how the findings of this research can assist podcast creators develop episodes promoting flexible masculinity are discussed