More men are asking for help — but they’re not getting what they need.44% of Australian men who start therapy drop out early, and a quarter never come back after the first session.(Movember, 2021)The most common reason for dropping out?A lack of connection with the therapist — over half of men who quit therapy said they couldn’t connect.Finding the right psychologist isn’t easy. A 2022 U.S. survey showed people see an average of three therapists before finding the right fit.(StudyFinds, 2022)What are we doing about it?Movember’s Men in Mind program is training mental health professionals to better engage and support male clients.While it mainly focuses on psychologists, counsellors, and social workers, its strategies are also relevant for GPs, who are often the first point of contact.There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to mental health.Research shows:
- Western psychological therapies like CBT, ACT, and IPT help around 50–70% of people with depression (Royal Australian & NZ College of Psychiatrists, 2020; Australian Psychological Society, 2022)
- Peer-led support groups (like AA) boost retention, especially for addiction (Stanford School of Medicine, 2020)
- Mindfulness cuts relapse risk by 31% (JAMA Psychiatry, 2023)
- Consistent breathwork can reduce stress by 20–30%(Frontiers in Psychology, 2023)
- Exercise can cut depressive symptoms by 20–30%(Harvard Health Publishing, 2023)
- Creative therapies (art/music) can ease anxiety by 15–25% (Frontiers in Psychology, 2021)
- Rehab programs see 30–50% completion rates(National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 2023)
Bottom line, everyone’s different...Just because one thing you tried didn’t help doesn’t mean nothing will.Just because one psychologist wasn’t right for you doesn’t mean the next one won’t be.
There’s no silver bullet — often it’s the right combination of therapies and practices that makes a difference.
Keep exploring. Don’t give up.My question for you this week is...What’s working for you? (Let me know in the comments)
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