Research Supported by HeadsUpGuys

One of the important ways that HeadsUpGuys serves as the world’s leading men’s mental health resource is through its commitment to research. Not only is HeadsUpGuys founded on a robust evidence base, we but also take an active role in conducting research that contributes to this evidence base.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE

In partnership with B.C.’s Community Savings Credit Union, this study surveyed 451 Canadian men about their mental health and how they felt about their places of work. 

• Key Findings:
  • Findings revealed high rates of hazardous drinking (36%), depression (22%), suicidal ideation (18%), and anxiety (14%).
  • Nearly 85% of respondents reported burnout and 18% reported that personal problems significantly impaired their work
  • Approximately 53% indicated that they keep feelings to themselves and 45% reported that they would prefer not to talk about their problems.
• Media mentions:
  • UBC-led study finds almost half of Canadian men at risk for depression | Vancouver Sun
  • Men’s mental health suffering in the workplace, survey finds | Vancouver CityNews
• Canadian men’s workplace mental health (In press)

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Online Help Seeking in Men

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on men’s mental health are undeniable. Findings from this survey study of 434 Canadian men demonstrate that the repercussions on psychological well-being will likely be felt for years to come.

• Key Findings:
  • Almost 80% of respondents reported that their mental health was negatively affected by the pandemic.
  • Over 40% endorsed thoughts of suicide.
  • Financial stress (51%) and relationships issues (38%) were the most common pandemic-related worries among the men surveyed.
• Media mentions:
  • More young men in Western Canada died than expected last year — and not just because of COVID-19 | Toronto Star
• Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of online help-seeking Canadian men

Publication List

2024

• Ostergaard, S. & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2024). Does risk-taking or alcohol misuse mediate the association between anger and suicidal ideation in male depression? Journal of Psychiatric Research, 171, 25-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.12.024
• Sharp, P., Oliffe, J.L., Kealy, D., Rice, S.M., Seidler, Z.E., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (In press). Canadian men’s workplace mental health. Cogent Mental Health.

2023

• Keum, B.T., Oliffe, J.L., Rice, S.M., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z.E., Cox, D., Levant, R.F., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2023). Distress disclosure and psychological distress among men: The role of feeling understood and loneliness. Current Psychology, 42, 10533–10542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02163-y
• Sharp, P., Kealy, D., Rice, S.M., Seidler, Z.E., & Oliffe, J.L., Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2023). Existential isolation and psychological distress during COVID-19: The role of loneliness and resilient coping in Canadian help-seeking men. Journal of Affective Disorders, 324, 279-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.133
• Sharp, P., Oliffe, J.L., Kealy, D., Rice, S.M., Seidler, Z.E., Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2023). Social support boosts young men’s resilient coping to buffer psychological distress. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 17, 784-791. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13371
• Ogrodniczuk, J.S., Sivagurunathan, M., Kealy, D., Rice, S.M., Seidler, Z.E., & Oliffe, J.L. (2023). Suicidal ideation among men during COVID-19: Examining the roles of loneliness, thwarted belongingness, and personality impairment. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 64, 401–408. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12904.
• Brown, T.L., Oliffe, J.L., Kealy, D., Rice, S.M., Seidler, Z.E., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2023). The influence of meaning in life on psychological distress among men: A serial multiple mediation model involving resilience and loneliness. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 4, 100114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2023.100114

2022

• Seidler, Z.E., Wilson, M., Rice, S.M., Kealy, D., Oliffe, J.L. & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2022). Virtual connection, real support? A study of loneliness, time on social media and distress among men. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68, 288-293. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020983836.
• Storey, Q.K., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z.E., Oliffe, J.L., Rice, S.M., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2022). Connecting and healing: The role of existential isolation in mediating the impact of the therapeutic relationship on Canadian men’s mental health outcomes. American Journal of Men’s Health, 16(6), 15579883221136980. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883221136980
• Rice, S.M., Trail, K., Walton, C.C., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z.E., Oliffe, J.L., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2022). An evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale in a sample of help-seeking men. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1, 22-31. https://doi.org/10.12740/APP/141731.
• Simpson, N.J., Oliffe, J.L., Rice, S.M., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z.E., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2022). Social disconnection and psychological distress in Canadian men during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Men’s Health,  https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883221078145.
• Simard, A.A.P., Seidler, Z.E., Oliffe, J.L., Rice, S.M., Kealy, D., Walther, A., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2022). Job satisfaction and psychological distress among men: Does meaning in life play a role. Behavioral Sciences, 12(3):58. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12030058
• Wilson, M.J., Seidler, Z.E., Oliffe, J.L., Toogood, N., Kealy, D., Ogrodniczuk, J.S., Walther, A., & Rice, S.M. (2022). “Appreciate the little things”: Exploring men’s coping strategies and mental health impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Men’s Health, 16(3), 15579883221099794. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883221099794. 

2021

• Kealy, D., Rice, S.M., Seidler, Z.E., Oliffe, J.L., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2021). Reflective functioning and men’s mental health: Associations with resilience and personal growth initiative. Stress & Health, 37, 706– 714. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3030.
• Rice, S.M., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z.E., Walton, C.C., Oliffe, J.L., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2021). Male-type depression symptoms in young men with a history of childhood sexual abuse and current hazardous alcohol use. Psychiatry Research, 304, 114110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114110.

2020

• Seidler, Z. Rice, S., Kealy, D., Oliffe, J.L., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2020).  Getting them through the door: A survey of men’s facilitators for seeking mental health treatment. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18, 1346–1351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00147-5. 
• Seidler, Z. Rice, S., Kealy, D., Oliffe, J.L., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2020). What gets in the way? Men’s perspectives of barriers to mental health services. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66, 105–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764019886336. 
• Rice, S.M., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z.E., Oliffe, J.L., Levant, R.F., & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2020). Male-type and prototypal depression trajectories for men experiencing mental health problems. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 7322; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197322.
• Ogrodniczuk, J.S., Rice, S.M., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z.E., Delara, M. & Oliffe, J.L. (2021). Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of online help-seeking Canadian men. Postgraduate Medicine, 133, 750-759. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2021.1873027.