Research About HeadsUpGuys

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Men’s experience of HeadsUpGuys

This study surveyed 443 men who visited HeadsUpGuys to assess the site’s impact on mental health literacy, stigma reduction, attitudes, action-taking, help-seeking, and overall satisfaction with our resource.

• Mental Health Literacy: 72% reported improved knowledge of depression in men, 74% felt they better recognized depression symptoms, and 67% reported enhanced understanding of suicide and suicidal thoughts among men.
• Stigma: 68% experienced a reduction in stigmatising beliefs about depression in men, and 64% saw a reduction in stigma related to suicide and suicidal thoughts. 69% felt less alone in their experience of depression, and 64% of those with suicidal ideation felt less isolated.
• Attitudes: 61% believed that recovery from depression for men is possible, and nearly 72% reported an improved sense of hope for recovery.
• Taking Action: 70% felt inspired to take action towards recovery, 69% reported an improved understanding of recovery steps, and 62% felt better equipped to manage symptoms of depression.
• Help-Seeking: Of those who had not previously sought informal support, 55% were more likely to seek support from friends or family. Among those who had not sought professional help before, 66% were more likely to seek it.
• Satisfaction: 85% of participants were satisfied with HeadsUpGuys as a resource for men dealing with depression, and 73% would recommend the site to others, with 19% having already done so.

Men’s experiences of HeadsUpGuys: A strength-based case study

Five-Year Review of HeadsUpGuys

To better understand the impact of HeadsUpGuys.org as an eHealth resource for men, this study evaluated web analytics collected over a 5-year period (2015-2020). 

• Through its first 5 years of operation, HeadsUpGuys.org had a total of 1,665,356 unique users, amounting to 1,948,481 sessions and 3,328,258 page views.
• Suicidality featured prominently in the organic, unpaid, search traffic, representing four of the top 10 queries that brought users to the site.

An Evaluation of 5-Year Web Analytics for HeadsUpGuys: A Men’s Depression E-Mental Health Resource

Publication List

• Ogrodniczuk, J. S., Beharry, J., Storey, Q. K., & Oliffe, J. L. (2024). Men’s experiences of HeadsUpGuys: A strength-based case study. Health Education Journal, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00178969241279649
• Keum, B.T. & Ogrodniczuk, J.S. (2023). The role of first-person depression storytelling online video on men’s self-stigma, traditional masculinity ideology, and psychological help-seeking attitudes. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 31, 241-260. https://doi.org/10.1177/10608265221108511
• Ogrodniczuk, J.S., Beharry, J., & Oliffe, J.L. (2022). HeadsUpGuys: An e-mental health resource for men with depression. Rhode Island Medical Journal, 105, 23-28.
• Ogrodniczuk, J.S., Beharry, J., & Oliffe, J.L. (2021). An evaluation of 5-year web analytics for HeadsUpGuys: A men’s depression e-mental health resource. American Journal of Men’s Health, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883211063322