An investigation by Lydia Spencer-Elliott into why many men avoid therapy has drawn a wide range of responses from Independent readers. Comments ranged from staunch defences of self-reliance to impassioned calls for greater compassion and openness.
Several readers argued that lifelong social conditioning makes it difficult for men to seek help. They noted that many men learn to maintain a facade of strength, making vulnerability hard to admit. Stigma within male peer groups remains a major barrier, with emotional openness still seen as weakness by some.
Other readers defended therapy as valuable. A therapist emphasised that therapy is not just about talking about feelings, but about understanding behaviour, finding solutions and making change. Readers who had benefited from therapy highlighted the courage required to ask for help, particularly in a culture that often mocks it.
Not everyone was convinced. Some expressed distrust of the therapy industry, calling it money-driven or ineffective. Others insisted that if men feel capable of handling problems alone, that should be respected. Some readers also suggested that alternative approaches, such as Men's Sheds, which provide a non-judgemental environment for socialising “shoulder to shoulder”, may be more suitable for some men.
