Michael James Wilson

Intimate partner relationship breakdown is a significant risk factor for suicide in men. Linked to this risk is the emotional upheaval tied to grief and loss—an area that has received little research attention in young men. This study aimed to theorize the emotional and social processes by which young men react to and recover from relationship breakdown. Twenty-two Australian men (aged 19–30 years) who had been through a breakup in the preceding three years participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Constructivist grounded theory was used to analyze interviews and explicate a theory of post-breakup reaction and recovery, that was conceptually advanced with a masculinities framework. Our theory highlighted a process of mixing emotions , where diverse emotions interacted to exacerbate or buffer a core of sadness. The mixing of emotions often spilled into overwhelm, indicated by massing emotions and featuring suicidality for some young men. In response, young men mobilized varied strategies for managing emotions , featuring interlinked processes of withdrawing , distracting , and expressing . With time, recovering was indicated by prioritizing self , wherein participants purposefully centered their needs as requisite to healing. This comprised triaging influences , where young men simultaneously engaged social supports, amid disregarding peer advice to immediately re-partner as this was deemed incompatible with recovering. Finally, in reconciling , young men took on their breakup experiences as a source of learning and resilience. Findings add to the growing body of evidence centering healthy adjustment to relationship breakdown as critical for suicide prevention in men.

Issue Addressed: Alcohol use and depression are known correlates of one another, especially in men, and are influenced by a range of demographic and psychosocial factors. This study examined the association between alcohol use and depressive symptoms in a large representative cohort of Australian men. We also tested whether this association differed by men's age, household income, social support, illicit drug use and help‐seeking. Methods: Using data from four waves (2013–2022) of the Longitudinal Study of Men's Health (Ten to Men; N = 13 776), linear regression models were estimated using generalised estimating equations, with additive adjustment for confounders. Moderation was tested with the sequential addition of interaction terms to the fully adjusted models. Results: Alcohol use was positively associated with depressive symptoms ( b = 0.13, 95% CI 0.11–0.14), even after controlling for confounders. An interaction with social support was observed, whereby the association between alcohol use and depression decreased in strength among men with higher social support. No such interactions were observed for age, household income, illicit drug use or help‐seeking. Conclusion: Results indicated that while alcohol use was a robust correlate of depression symptoms in men, higher social support buffered this association. So What?: Findings underscore the value of social support as an important protective factor in men's mental health, especially with regard to co‐occurring alcohol use and depression.

Factors underlying the association between intimate relationship breakdown and men's suicidality are poorly understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined which men are most vulnerable and the factors underpinning men's suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and death by suicide following relationship breakdown. We reviewed 75 studies across 30 countries (N ≥ 100 million men). Of these, 29 studies were included in random-effects meta-analyses and the remainder were narratively synthesized. Meta-analyses found separated/divorced men had greater odds of suicidal ideation than married men (k = 7; odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% CI [1.27, 2.13]). Divorced men also had greater odds of suicide attempt (k = 3; OR = 1.73, 95% CI [1.05, 2.85]) and death by suicide (k = 33; OR = 2.82, 95% CI [2.53, 3.15]) than married men. Risk of suicidality appeared greatest in the immediate aftermath of relationship breakdown, as separated men displayed nearly twofold greater odds of suicide than divorced men (k = 10; OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.42, 2.71]). Men's suicidality following relationship breakdown was also linked to younger age (≤34 years), less than tertiary education, lack of employment, and psychological factors such as loneliness and emotion dysregulation. Study limitations included the following: wide methodological variability in the source literature, precluding meta-analysis of most included studies; inconsistent reporting of demographics prohibiting more detailed meta-analyses within subgroups of men; and a predominant focus on marital separation and divorce, with comparatively little data reflecting nonmarital relationship breakdown in association with suicidality. Opportunities for preventing suicidality following relationship breakdown are discussed, alongside future research to address knowledge gaps regarding factors that interact with relationship breakdown in men's suicidality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Background: High rates of social media use and mental ill-health among young people have drawn significant public, policy, and research concern. Rapid technological advancements and changes in platform design have outpaced our understanding of the health effects of social media and hampered timely evidence-based regulatory responses. While a proliferation of recommendations to social media companies and governments has been published, a comprehensive summary of recommendations for protecting young people’s mental health and digital safety does not yet exist. Objective: This scoping review synthesized published recommendations for social media companies and governments in relation to young people’s (aged 12-25 years) mental health. A qualitative approach was used to undertake inductive content analysis, where recommendations were grouped under conceptually similar themes. Methods: We searched academic (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO) and nonacademic (Overton and Google) databases for relevant documents. Eligible documents provided recommendations to regulators and social media companies that pertained to social media, young people, and mental health. This review excluded recommendations for young people, caregivers, educators, or clinicians surrounding strategies for managing individual social media use; instead, the recommendations emphasized the regulation or design of social media products and practices of social media companies. Peer-reviewed and gray literature from selected Western contexts (Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States) were relevant for inclusion. Documents were published between January 2020 and September 2024. Results: Of the identified 4980 unique reports, 120 (2.41%) progressed to full-text screening, and 70 (1.41%) met the inclusion criteria. Five interrelated themes were identified: (1) legislating and overseeing accountability, (2) transparency, (3) collaboration, (4) safety by design, and (5) restricting young people’s access to social media. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the need for multipronged approaches to address the rapidly increasing presence and reach of social media platforms in the lives of young people. These recommendations provide practical and tangible paths forward for governments and industry, backed by expert organizations in youth mental health and technology regulation at a time when expert-informed guidance is sorely needed. Rigorous evaluation of the proposed recommendations is needed while continuing to build on the emerging peer-reviewed evidence base that should form the foundation of policy and regulatory changes.

Disclosing sexual trauma can support recovery and healing for victim-survivors. Despite evidence indicating low disclosure rates and long disclosure delays in sexual trauma-exposed boys and men, little is known about factors impacting disclosure in this group. A systematic review was conducted to consolidate evidence surrounding barriers, facilitators, and predictors of disclosure likelihood and timing in boys and men following sexual trauma (i.e., sexual abuse, assaults, and coercion). Disclosure included formal reporting, help-seeking, and discussions with social supports. Four electronic databases (PsycINFO, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Medline) were searched and 69 articles (42 qualitative, 25 quantitative, two mixed-methods) were included, representing 10,517 sexual trauma-exposed boys and men and 297 supports of sexual trauma-exposed boys and men (e.g., police, mental health practitioners). Barriers and facilitators were mapped according to levels of the social ecology. Boys’ and men’s understanding of, and responses to, sexual trauma were informed by perceived masculine norm violations and minimal public acknowledgement and validation of their trauma. These factors were compounded by a dearth of appropriate supports and practitioner knowledge. Assessed predictors of disclosure outcomes were highly variable, indicating limited theoretical understanding of factors likely to impact disclosure and need for greater methodological rigor and integration of theory into this domain. Scholarship remains biased towards disclosure barriers, with little emphasis on strengths-based factors that support help-seeking. Findings highlight impacts of gender socialisation processes on long-term experiences of sexual trauma. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed, including need for greater awareness and support for sexual trauma-exposed boys and men.

There is growing consensus for upskilling the health care workforce on gender-responsive strategies to more effectively connect and respond to men during health care encounters. To inform health practitioner education, the primary aim of this study was to gain insights from a diverse sample of men in Australia on their experiences and expectations when engaging with health care practitioners. Thirty-two men (18–70 years, median 33) participated in eight online focus group discussions. A combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to reconcile their expectations with prior published approaches for practitioners to engage men in care and identify new themes. Participants desired a genuine relationship, signaled by upfront and informal communication, active listening, and enquiry. In structuring treatment, participants sought transparency and respect for autonomy. Regarding the therapeutic alliance, avoiding gender stereotyping and empathetic, sensitive, and holistic care were valued by men. These expectations for how practitioners engage with men in care were reflected in their advice for health practitioner student training and aligned with approaches published previously. Participant insights were synthesized into four outcomes, for men, of successful engagement: legitimize the relationship to build trust, create a safe space to facilitate disclosure, empower men, and assess and treat the whole man through a biopsychosocial lens. In conclusion, men seek authentic connection and a caring style that allows them to legitimize and forge an ongoing relationship with their practitioner. These outcomes of successful engagement are key to developing consumer-informed health practitioner education and competencies on gender-responsive health care for men.

BACKGROUND High rates of social media use and mental ill-health among young people have drawn significant public, policy, and research concern. Rapid technological advancements and changes in platform design have outpaced our understanding of the health effects of social media and hampered timely evidence-based regulatory responses. While a proliferation of recommendations to social media companies and governments has been published, a comprehensive summary of recommendations for protecting young people’s mental health and digital safety does not yet exist. OBJECTIVE This scoping review synthesized published recommendations for social media companies and governments in relation to young people’s (aged 12-25 years) mental health. A qualitative approach was used to undertake inductive content analysis, where recommendations were grouped under conceptually similar themes. METHODS We searched academic (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO) and nonacademic (Overton and Google) databases for relevant documents. Eligible documents provided recommendations to regulators and social media companies that pertained to social media, young people, and mental health. This review excluded recommendations for young people, caregivers, educators, or clinicians surrounding strategies for managing individual social media use; instead, the recommendations emphasized the regulation or design of social media products and practices of social media companies. Peer-reviewed and gray literature from selected Western contexts (Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States) were relevant for inclusion. Documents were published between January 2020 and September 2024. RESULTS Of the identified 4980 unique reports, 120 (2.41%) progressed to full-text screening, and 70 (1.41%) met the inclusion criteria. Five interrelated themes were identified: (1) legislating and overseeing accountability, (2) transparency, (3) collaboration, (4) safety by design, and (5) restricting young people’s access to social media. CONCLUSIONS This review emphasizes the need for multipronged approaches to address the rapidly increasing presence and reach of social media platforms in the lives of young people. These recommendations provide practical and tangible paths forward for governments and industry, backed by expert organizations in youth mental health and technology regulation at a time when expert-informed guidance is sorely needed. Rigorous evaluation of the proposed recommendations is needed while continuing to build on the emerging peer-reviewed evidence base that should form the foundation of policy and regulatory changes.

Objectives: There is evidence of increasing rates of hospital presentations for suicidal crisis, and emergency departments (EDs) are described as an intervention point for suicide prevention. Males account for three in every four suicides in Ireland and are up to twice as likely as females to eventually die by suicide following a hospital presentation for suicidal crisis. This study therefore aimed to profile the characteristics of ED presentations for suicidal ideation and self-harm acts among males in Ireland, using clinical data collected by self-harm nurses within a dedicated national service for crisis presentations to EDs.Methods: Using ED data from 2018–2021, variability in the sociodemographic characteristics of male presentations was examined, followed by age-based diversity in the characteristics of presentations and interventions delivered. Finally, likelihood of onward referral to subsequent care was examined according to presentation characteristics.Results: Across 45,729 presentations, males more commonly presented with suicidal ideation than females (56% v. 44%) and less often with self-harm (42% v. 58%). Drug- and alcohol-related overdose was the most common method of self-harm observed. A majority of males presenting to ED reported no existing linkage with mental health services.Conclusions: Emergency clinicians have an opportunity to ensure subsequent linkage to mental health services for males post-crisis, with the aim of prevention of suicides.