Abstract
BackgroundMen are less likely to seek help for mental health problems, possibly because of stigma imposed by cultural masculine norms. These tendencies may be amplified within male-dominated workplaces such as the emergency services or transport industries. Mobile apps present a promising way to provide access to mental health support. However, little is known about the kinds of mental health technologies men would be willing to engage with, and no app can be effective if the intended users do not engage with it.ObjectiveThe goal of this participatory user research study was to explore the perceptions, preferences, and ideas of workers in male-dominated workplaces to define requirements for a mental health app that would be engaging and effective at improving psychological well-being.MethodsWorkers from male-dominated workplaces in rural, suburban, and urban locations took part in an exploratory qualitative study involving participatory workshops designed to elicit their perspectives and preferences for mental health support and the design of an app for mental health. Participants generated a number of artifacts (including draft screen designs and promotional material) designed to reify their perceptions, tacit knowledge, and ideas.ResultsA total of 60 workers aged between 26 and 65 years, 92% (55/60) male, from male-dominated workplaces in rural (16/60, 27%), suburban (14/60, 23%), and urban (30/60, 50%) locations participated in one of the 6 workshops, resulting in 49 unique feature ideas and 81 participant-generated artifacts. Thematic analysis resulted in a set of feature, language, and style preferences, as well as characteristics considered important by participants for a mental health app. The term “mental health” was highly stigmatized and disliked by participants. Tools including a mood tracker, self-assessment, and mood-fix tool were highly valued, and app characteristics such as brevity of interactions, minimal on-screen text, and a solutions-oriented approach were considered essential by participants. Some implementation strategies based on these findings are included in the discussion.ConclusionsFuture mental health mobile phone apps targeting workers in male-dominated workplaces need to consider language use and preferred features, as well as balance the preferences of users with the demands of evidence-based intervention. In addition to informing the development of mental health apps for workers in male-dominated industries, these findings may also provide insights for mental health technologies, for men in general, and for others in high-stigma environments.
Highlights
Men account for 75% of suicides but are less likely to seek help for mental health problems and are more likely to use unhelpful coping strategies [1]
Thematic analysis resulted in a set of feature, language, and style preferences, as well as characteristics considered important by participants for a mental health app
We present results from the user research phase of the development of an app intended to improve the well-being of workers in male-dominated workplaces
Summary
Men account for 75% of suicides but are less likely to seek help for mental health problems and are more likely to use unhelpful coping strategies [1]. Low rates of help-seeking in men are likely due in part to the stigma imposed by dominant cultural masculine norms that discourage emotional expression and help-seeking as signs of weakness [2,3,4]. This effect and its impact on mental health are likely to be amplified within hyper-masculinized cultures such as male-dominated workplaces [5]. Men are less likely to seek help for mental health problems, possibly because of stigma imposed by cultural masculine norms These tendencies may be amplified within male-dominated workplaces such as the emergency services or transport industries. Little is known about the kinds of mental health technologies men would be willing to engage with, and no app can be effective if the intended users do not engage with it
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