Correlates of non-receipt of formal mental health services among Australian men experiencing thoughts of suicide

Background The majority of suicide deaths occur in men. Men are also less likely to receive formal mental health services prior to dying by suicide compared to women. Identifying correlates of non-receipt of services among men at risk of suicide may aid the development of tailored interventions and service pathways. Methods A total of 415 Australian men experiencing past-year suicidal ideation were recruited online to complete a cross-sectional survey between July-October 2021. The survey consisted of questions assessing participants’ help-seeking, demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and individual-level characteristics. Bivariate analysis and a stepwise logistic regression analysis were used to identify correlates of service non-receipt. Results 42.4% of participants had not received formal mental health services in the past year, as determined by responses on the Actual Help-Seeking Questionnaire. Past year non-receipt of formal mental health services correlated with the absence of a diagnosed mental health and/or substance use disorder, the absence of past year suicide plans, the absence of interpersonal support, lower perceived need for support, and usage of certain coping styles. Limitations Limitations included the use of a convenience sample, and a predominantly middle-aged, Caucasian sample. Conclusion Aside from showing lower severity of suicidality, men at risk of suicide who are not receiving mental health services are not vastly different from those who are receiving such services. The correlation between severity of suicidality and non-receipt of services highlights the need for early intervention, potentially via non-traditional settings, such as workplaces.