Erkeklerin Ruh Sağlığı Hizmetlerine Katılımındaki Engellerin Giderilmesi ve Çözüm Önerileri Geliştirilmesine Yönelik Yaklaşımlar

Öz

Araştırmalar ve klinik gözlemler, erkeklerin kadınlara kıyasla ruh sağlığı hizmetlerinden daha az faydalandıklarını ve psikolojik belirtileri deneyimleme ve aktarma biçimlerinin niteliksel olarak farklılaştığını ortaya koymaktadır. Ruh sağlığı alanında kadın ve erkeklerde görülen bu farklılar, temel olarak, cinsiyet sosyalleşmesine atfedilmektedir. Bu bağlamda, özyeterlik ve duygu denetimini merkeze alan erkeklik normlarının, psikolojik problemler ve psikolojik yardım arama davranışlarıyla ilgili sosyal temsillerle uyumsuzluk gösterdiği düşünülmektedir. Öte yandan, güncel kuramsal açıklamalar ve bilimsel bulgular, alternatif ve sağlıklı erkekliklerin oluşturulmasının, erkeklerin ruh sağlığı hizmetlerinden faydalanması sırasında ortaya çıkabilecek farklı ve çok çeşitli deneyimlerini kapsamada oldukça önemli olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Söz konusu bu yaklaşımlar, erkeklerin psikolojik hizmetlere erişimindeki engellere odaklanılmasının yanı sıra, bu popülasyonun ruh sağlığı hizmetlerine katılımının ve bu hizmetlerden edinecekleri faydaları arttıracak stratejiler geliştirilmesinin önemine işaret etmektedir. Bu bağlamda, söz konusu derleme erkeklerin psikolojik destek arama ve psikolojik hizmetlerden faydalanmasının önündeki psikososyal ve yapısal engelleri ele almayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu derlemenin ikincil amacı ise, alan yazında erkeklerin ruh sağlığı hizmetlerine katılımına ilişkin araştırma bulguları ve teorik tartışmaları sentezleyerek, bu popülasyonun ruh sağlığı hizmetlerine katılımlarını arttıracak, toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri temelli önerilerde bulunmaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• cinsiyet sosyalleşmesi
• psikolojik yardım arama davranışı
• sağlıklı erkeklikler

Perspectives on Eliminating Barriers and Fostering Solutions to Men’s Participation and Engagement in Mental Health Services

Abstract

Research and clinical experience have consistently shown that men underutilize mental health services compared to women, and men’s understanding and expression of psychological symptoms may differ qualitatively from those of women. Such differences are mainly attributed to the gender socialization process, where manhood is associated with the endorsement of values such as self-reliance and emotional control that are incompatible with the social representations of psychological help-seeking. However, recent theoretical and empirical discussions have begun to focus on constructions of healthy masculinities in personal and public spaces to target the diverse needs of men in mental health service delivery. Such approaches underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach focusing not only on eliminating constraints but also on developing solutions to motivate men to initiate and benefit from psychological treatments. Thus, the current review aimed to address the psychosocial and structural factors that prevent men from seeking and engaging in psychological treatments. The secondary goal was to suggest improvements to men’s participation in mental health services by using a gender-informed perspective, synthesizing literature findings and theoretical discussions about men’s perspectives and use of mental health services.

Keywords

• gender socialization
• psychological help-seeking
• healthy masculinities

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