Healthcare for Men with Suicidal Thoughts: Needs Assessment

The aim of the current project is twofold, namely 1. To gain insight into needs related to help-seeking among men with (previous) suicidal thoughts (STUDY 1). More specifically, this study examines help-seeking behaviour, possible barriers to seeking help and needs with regard to existing tools and health care among men who had suicidal thoughts. In other words, is there a difference in help-seeking behaviour between men and women with suicidal thoughts in the past and what factors contribute to this difference? More specifically: 1. To what extent do men with suicidal thoughts in the past recognize their need for help, compared to women with suicidal thoughts in the past? 2. What barriers and needs do men with suicidal thoughts in the past experience towards seeking help, compared to women with suicidal thoughts in the past? 3. What barriers and needs do men with suicidal thoughts in the past experience to remain engaged in help, compared to women with suicidal thoughts in the past? 2. To map out needs of healthcare providers in working with men with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviour (STUDY 2). More specifically, how do healthcare providers experience working with men who are feeling suicidal and what are their experienced barriers and needs. Two main research questions were formulated: 1. How do health care providers experience working with men (in comparison to women or people of other genders) who are feeling suicidal? 2. What needs and barriers do health care providers experience when working with men (in comparison to women or people of other genders) who are feeling suicidal?

Approximately three out of four people who die by suicide are men. Suicide is a complex phenomenon, which cannot be explained by a single factor, but rather is a result of a variety of neurobiological, psychological and social risk factors. Considering the difference in suicide risk between men and women, researchers have tried to identify risk factors specific to men, which might contribute to the increased suicide risk. Differences in help-seeking behaviour and received help have repeatedly been put forward as being one of these factors as men are less likely to seek help and have a higher drop-out rate once having started interventions. That is why in our new project we want to investigate what barriers and needs men experience with regard to existing healthcare and how healthcare can meet these needs. This will be done in two studies among 1) people with suicidal thoughts in the past 3 years and 2) healthcare providers. * STUDY 1: A needs assessment among men with a history of suicidal thoughts, consisting of * One online needs assessment questionnaire (15-20 min.) for men, women and individuals with other gender identities (≥18y/o) who have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past three years. The questionnaire assesses help-seeking behaviour and factors that may be associated with it (i.e. barriers to help, perceived stigma, emotional openness, self-reliance, perceived need for help, needs regarding healthcare). This questionnaire will be administered to men as well as to women/people with a different gender identity in order to compare the different gender groups. * Six online focus groups with men, women and individuals with other gender identities (separately) (≥18y/o) who have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past three years. * STUDY 2: A needs assessment among healthcare providers, consisting of * One online needs assessment questionnaire (10-15 min.) for health care providers (i.e., general practitioners (GP's), psychiatrists, medical doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists and nurses working in healthcare) (≥18y/o) who have previously encountered men with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviour professionally. The questionnaire is used to identify their needs regarding working with men with suicidal thoughts. * Two online focus groups with health care provides (GP's, psychiatrists, medical doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists and nurses working in healthcare) (≥18y/o) who have previously encountered men with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviour professionally to further discuss these needs.