Seventy-three men who were currently accessing or had recently accessed mental health services completed a questionnaire regarding their emotional expression, engagement in therapy, perceptions of treatment helpfulness, and future help-seeking intentions. Perceptions of treatment helpfulness were inversely predicted by alexithymia (mediated by bond) and restrictive emotionality, although these emotional expression variables were unrelated to future help-seeking intentions. Bond was positively related to perceptions of treatment helpfulness and both variables predicted future help-seeking intentions. Contrary to expectations, perceptions of treatment helpfulness did not mediate the relationship between bond and future help-seeking intentions. It was concluded that, once in therapy, bond and perceptions of treatment helpfulness are more important to future help-seeking intentions than a man’s difficulty or discomfort with emotional expression.

The degree to which men's current or most recent access to professional psychological help was influenced by others, and their future independent help-seeking intentions were measured. Seventy-three males currently accessing, or who had recently accessed a mental health service, completed a questionnaire that asked about their pathway to care and future help-seeking intentions. Ninety-six percent of participants reported their decision to seek help was influenced to some degree by others, with G.P's, and intimate partners most influential. Thirty-seven percent indicated that without this influence, they would not have sought help at all. Once in therapy, treatment helpfulness was a significant predictor of future help-seeking intentions for a personal-emotional problem or suicidal thoughts, irrespective of the pathway to care.

The degree to which men's current or most recent access to professional psychological help was influenced by others, and who influenced them was investigated. The role of restrictive emotionality and alexithymia in therapy engagement, and future independent help-seeking intentions were also assessed. Seventy-three males currently accessing, or who had recently accessed a mental health service, completed a questionnaire that asked about their decision to seek help, difficulty or discomfort with emotions, engagement in therapy, perceptions of treatment helpfulness and future help-seeking intentions. Ninety-six percent of participants reported their decision to seek help was influenced by others, with G.P.'s, and intimate partners most influential. Thirty-seven percent indicated that without this influence, they would not have sought help. Restrictive emotionality, alexithymia and the degree of influence provided for the current or most recent episode of professional help were all unrelated to future help-seeking intentions. Once in therapy, restrictive emotionality and alexithymia were both related to perceptions of treatment helpfulness, but had only a small relationship with therapeutic bond. Therapeutic bond predicted perceptions of treatment helpfulness, and both variables were related to future help-seeking intentions. Perceptions of treatment helpfulness did not mediate the relationship between bond and future help-seeking intentions.